According to the Spanish Defense Ministry, an F-18 fighter jet has crashed at an airbase in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, but the pilot successfully ejected
From
JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press
May 20, 2023 9:58 am ET
• 2 min reading
BARCELONA, Spain – An F-18 fighter jet crashed at an airbase in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, but the pilot successfully ejected, Spain’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
The plane landed near the base, the Department of Defense said on Twitter.
The base, which is about 16 kilometers outside the city, belongs to the Spanish Aerospace Force.
Videos posted on social media showed a plane falling to the ground in flames.
The pilot is already in the hospital and there is no danger to life, the Air Force said.
Spanish news agency EFE said the F-18 was training for a flight exhibition at the time of the incident.
The Guardia Civil told the Associated Press that one of their patrols was the first to reach the pilot who fell outside the perimeter fence around the airbase.
According to the Guardia Civil, the pilot sustained injuries to his legs, apparently because he was thrown from a low altitude with a parachute. He was evacuated to the hospital by helicopter.
The Guardia Civil said it would work with the military to investigate the crash. According to the pilot, there was apparently a malfunction in the aircraft, it said.
The US-made F-18 Hornet has been part of the United States air defense since the 1980s and has been purchased by the air forces of several allied countries.
The Spanish Air Force acquired its first 72 McDonnell Douglas-made F-18 models in 1983. Known for their versatility, the fighters were put into service three years later. Later, the Spanish Air Force bought an undetermined number of other F-18s.
The Zaragoza base is home to a unit of Spanish F-18s.
The Spanish Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to questions from the AP about the incident.