British air base runway blocked after missiles fell off fighter jet

Military authorities are trying to collect a pair of missiles lying on the runway of Britain’s Akrotiri air base in Cyprus after they detached from a landing Tornado jet.

British Bases spokesman Kristian Gray said the two Brimstone ground attack missiles detached from the aircraft’s under-wing pods. He said there was no explosion and no one was hurt. An investigation is under way.

Mr Gray did not specify which mission the aircraft was returning from, but eight Tornado planes are now deployed at the base to fly missions against Islamic State group targets in Iraq.

In September of last year, Britain joined the US-led coalition of nations that launched airstrikes against the extremists.