A K-8 Karakorum light attack jet from the Bolivian Air Force (FAB) crashed last Friday (27). The accident occurred southeast of the city of Cobija, in the north of the country, on the border with the Brazilian state of Acre.

Through its social networks, the Air Force reported that the aircraft registration FAB-661 crashed during a training flight. The two crew members left the Chinese plane unharmed. An Aeronautical Accident Investigation Board was established to determine the causes of the accident. 

This is the second accident involving a K-8W Karakorum from Bolivia. In March 2021, the FAB lost its first K-8, when the aircraft suffered a technical failure while flying over the city of Cochabamba. The pilots ejected, but the plane crashed in a residential area in Sacaba municipality, killing a woman, injuring four others and destroying a house. 

Developed in the 1980s by China in partnership with Pakistan, the K-8 (also called JL-8) is a single-engine aircraft for advanced training and light attack. Capable of reaching 800 km/h, the K-8 has five hard points for the use of air-to-air missiles, general purpose bombs and rockets and 23mm cannons. 

In 2010, Bolivia acquired six of these planes, with options for a further 12 units, for US$57,8 million. The jets arrived in the country the following year. The Bolivian K-8s are operated by the 34th Air Group of Fighters, a subordinate unit of the 34th Air Group, headquartered in Cochabamba. 

The model is operated by 14 countries, including China, Pakistan, Egypt, Venezuela and Sri Lanka.