Jet crashes during S.Africa air show

CAPE TOWN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A civilian pilot was killed when his fighter jet crashed shortly before he was to participate in an air show in South Africa on Saturday, an air force official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Marius van den Heever of the Overberg Air Force Base said the English Electric Lightning jet was preparing to take part in the show which started on Friday near Bredasdorp, about 200 km (122 miles) west of Cape Town.

"This aircraft went down after it took off and was busy readying itself for an air display at our air show," he said. "Unfortunately the civilian pilot died in the crash. All indications are he went down with the plane."

The jet -- part of a fleet belonging to Cape Town's Thunder City that offers civilians flights in ex-military jets -- crashed about 10 km from the air force base where the show was being held. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Charles Dick)