A Canadian CF-18 fighter jet has crashed near the community of Cold Lake in the western Canadian province of Alberta, and the condition of the pilot is unknown, the country’s defense department said on Monday.

A spokesman for Canada’s Department of National Defence said a helicopter has been dispatched to search for the pilot. He did not have details of how many people were on board or whether the jet was on a training exercise or conducting military operations.

Cold Lake is home to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 4 Wing Cold Lake, the busiest fighter base in Canada, according to the defense department.

The base is home of Canada’s fighter pilot training, according to the department.

SOURCE REUTERS Photo: archive aviationnews