At Zaragoza Air Base, an Ejército del Aire C.15 (Spanish designation for the Mc Donnell Douglas F-18) fighter jet from Air Force Wing 15 crashed within the air station premises during a display exercise, close to the base’s loading area.
Preliminary images indicate the plane was performing maneuvers when it apparently lost lift for yet-to-be-determined reasons. Given the low altitude at the time of the incident, the odds of regaining control were extremely slim, forcing the pilot to initiate ejection procedures.
The involved Air Force official, a seasoned pilot with over 1,000 flight hours, sustained injuries to his legs, hips, and arms. However, he is currently out of life-threatening danger.
The Air Force confirmed through social media that the pilot was hospitalized but is no longer in danger:
El piloto del F18 accidentado se encuentra ya en el hospital y su vida no corre peligro. https://t.co/F9Vwbq9Xw9
— Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (@EjercitoAire) May 20, 2023
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