JAKARTA, April 16  -- An F-16 jet fighter of the Indonesian air force, donated by the United States, was on fire at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta before taking off on Thursday, military officer said.

The accident occurred at 08:15 a.m. Jakarta time when the plane was about to take off for an exercise to secure the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian African Conference in Jakarta and Bandung city, said Air Marshal Hadi Cahyanto, spokesman of the Indonesian air force.

"The plane was on fire before flying for an exercise for security of the conference," he told Xinhua by phone.

The pilot escaped and an investigation will be conducted to find out the cause of the accident, said Cahyanto.