Mig-29 (representational image) | Photo Credit: Thinkstock

A Polish military pilot died on Friday after ejecting from his MiG-29 jet fighter over northern Poland. The Soviet-design aircraft from the 22nd tactical air base at Malbork went down in the early hours about 20 km (12 miles) from the town- news agency AFP reported. The Polish defence ministry said that an investigation will be held into the circumstances which resulted in the tragic mishap. The defence ministry said that the pilot was on a night flying mission and had over 800 hours of flying experience of which 600 were combat operations.

"Tragic accident of a military aircraft 06.07 am. In the vicinity of Pasłęk (Warmia and Mazury Voivodship), during the night flight, MiG-29 from the 22nd Tactical Air Base crashed. The pilot catapulted around Sakiko (near Malbork). The wreck of the plane was found about half a kilometer from the buildings. After 2.30 an ambulance doctor confirmed the pilot's death," the ministry said in a statement on the crash on its official website.

"An investigation will be held into the circumstances of the crash, adding that the fighter pilot had more than 800 hours of flying experience, including 600 on combat duty aboard MiG-29s. The Polish army has a fleet of 48 US F-16s as well as 32 MiG-29s, several of which have been grounded due to a lack of spare parts," news agency AFP reported.

(This is a developing story. More details are awaited)