Information Minister Ali Ayed says Tuesday's crash was caused by a technical malfunction and took place in a military zone. He did not have information on the type of plane.

The state-run Petra news agency said it was an F-16.

"Capt. Saleh Darawsheh died this morning after the military aircraft crashed due to a technical failure," a military spokesman said without elaborating.

In August, an air force pilot survived after ejecting himself from his fighter jet before it crashed.