Hungarian Gripen fighter jet crashes near Szolnok, pilot ejects safely
A Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen C fighter jet crashed near the central city of Szolnok on Monday morning during a routine training flight after suffering an in-flight technical malfunction.
The pilot successfully ejected and was later found to have sustained a spinal injury requiring surgery. His condition remains stable and he is in good spirits, according to hospital and defence officials. No civilians were injured and no civilian infrastructure was damaged.
Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said the aircraft, which was carrying air-to-air missiles and cannon ammunition, developed a problem while the pair of Gripens was engaged in air combat training. The pilot diverted towards the Szolnok military airfield, accompanied by the second jet, but was forced to eject after the aircraft began an uncontrolled manoeuvre on the ground. The Gripen then skidded, came to rest and caught fire.
The crashed aircraft, side number 31, was part of Hungary’s fleet of 18 Gripens based at Kecskemét Air Base. The loss reduces the force to 17 aircraft. The same jet had previously experienced a serious technical emergency during a training flight in 2011, when its engine-control system failed but the pilot managed to return it safely to base.
Hungarian authorities have not yet officially confirmed the precise cause, though early unconfirmed reports point to a hydraulic-system failure followed by a landing-gear problem. The flight-data recorder is being examined.
