The pilot failed to control the plane during takeoff due to a malfunction of the pitch rate gyroscope, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry said all F-16 jets have four such gyroscopes and simultaneous failure of the gyroscopes is very rare.

The Singapore Air Force will conduct further studies with F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin to determine the specific cause of the gyroscope failure.

Singapore's F-16 fleet will resume flying after checking the pitch rat gyroscopes on each jet, the ministry said.