Patrouille Suisse display team to return to the skies
The Patrouille Suisse aerobatic team, which was grounded following a crash in the Netherlands last week, will take part in the upcoming Meiringen air show, the defence ministry has confirmed.
The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that five jets from the Patrouille Suisse display team would take part in the 75th anniversary of the Meiringen air base in canton Bern on June 17-18.
All acrobatic flights of Patrouille Suisse had been temporarily suspended following a collision between two Swiss F-5 fighter jets near a northern Dutch air base on June 9. Two probes by Swiss and Dutch teams are ongoing.
Following the mid-air collision near the city of Leeuwarden, one plane crashed in a pond and the other landed safely with a damaged tail. The pilot of the plane that crashed ejected before impact and landed in a greenhouse. He fractured his foot and suffered light cuts and bruises and will not be taking part in the Meiringen air show, the defence ministry said.
Officials have already warned that it might take several months to ascertain the cause of the crash.
Founded in 1964, the Patrouille Suisse is one of the four display teams of the Swiss Air Force. With its shows, both at home and abroad, it has become a trademark for Switzerland, showing the capability, precision and readiness of the Swiss Air Force.
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