A Hungarian Air Force Gripen fighter jet has crashed during a military flight, but the pilot ejected safely and survived the incident, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said.
The crash involved a Swedish-built JAS 39 Gripen, a multirole fighter aircraft operated by Hungary as part of its air force fleet. The pilot was able to activate the aircraft’s ejection system before the jet went down.
Authorities launched an investigation to determine what caused the crash. Military officials are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data and other evidence as part of efforts to establish whether the incident was caused by a technical problem, human error or other factors.
The incident highlights the risks associated with military aviation, where fighter pilots regularly conduct demanding training missions and exercises.
Hungary has operated Gripen aircraft for years under an agreement with Sweden, using the jets for national air defense and NATO-related missions.
The Gripen is designed for a wide range of operations, including air-to-air combat, ground attacks and reconnaissance. Its ejection system is intended to give pilots a chance to escape when an aircraft becomes uncontrollable or faces a serious emergency.
The safe ejection of the Hungarian pilot means the immediate focus will be on determining the circumstances surrounding the crash and assessing whether any additional safety measures are required.
The Hungarian government has not indicated that the crash was connected to hostile activity, and investigators are expected to establish the cause before drawing conclusions.
Swifteradio.com
