Two charged with negligent homicide in 2016 air force plane crash
Swiss military justice officials have indicted a Skyguide air traffic controller and an air force pilot following investigations into the 2016 crash of a F/A-18 military jet in the Swiss Alps which left a second pilot dead.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/jc
The two men are charged with negligent homicide, negligent disregard of service regulations, negligent obstruction of public traffic, and negligent misuse and waste of equipment, according to a military justice statement on Friday. They continue to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, it added.
The accident occurred during air combat training, shortly after the take-off of a two-plane patrol from Meiringen air base in the Bernese Oberland on August 29, 2016. The pilot of the second aircraft tried to lock his radar on to his leader’s aircraft, which was flying in front of him, in order to follow him.
However, this did not work. The pilot contacted the air traffic controller in Meiringen who told him to climb to an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 metres above sea level). The pilot followed these instructions and, 58 seconds after the last radio communication, crashed into the western flank of the Hinter-Tierberg mountain in the Susten region. The 27-year-old pilot was killed instantly, and his plane was completely destroyed.
The crash occurred 11 metres below the ridge at an altitude of 3,319 metres. In an interim report published in April 2020, the military justice authorities considered that the accident was due to an incorrect altitude indication. The air traffic controller probably indicated too low an altitude to the pilot, they said. Another cause of the air accident could be that the leader did not fully comply with the standard specifications during take-off, the report added.
Skyguide, which manages civil and military air traffic control, has acknowledged its responsibility, saying that in collaboration with the Swiss Air Force, it has taken measures to ensure that such an accident does not happen again.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Go to war or stay put? Ukrainian men in Switzerland face fresh dilemmas
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
The honey harvest is projected to be lower than usual this year, as Swiss beekeepers report harvesting an average of just 16kg of honey per bee colony.
More young refugees in Switzerland following vocational training
This content was published on
More than half of young refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 25 are now in training. This is significantly more than five years ago.
One in five Swiss children suffers psychological abuse at home
This content was published on
In Switzerland, one in five children suffers psychological violence, and one in three has witnessed psychological violence between parents, says the association Kinderschutz Schweiz.
Swiss government minister breaks silence over Trump remarks controversy
This content was published on
Transport Minister Albert Rösti explained himself in a television interview on Sunday evening, after being called out for expressing support for Donald Trump.
Swiss Covid expert calls for caution on vaccination recommendations
This content was published on
The head of the vaccination commission would be “even more cautious today” when it comes to Covid-19 vaccination recommendations.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Popular Air Force display cancelled after fatal crashes
This content was published on
The display was called off following a military helicopter crash earlier this week, which killed the pilot and co-pilot and injured a flight assistant, and an accident on August 29 that claimed the life of an F/A-18 fighter jet. The Super Puma helicopter came down in the central Swiss Alps on Wednesday after dropping off…
This content was published on
The F/A-18 military jet which crashed last week in the mountains was given a too low altitude reading by air traffic control, say officials.
This content was published on
“The army’s leadership express their heartfelt condolences to his relatives,” the defence ministry said. The 27-year-old deceased pilot’s family is being cared for by army specialists, the statement added. An investigation into the accident has been launched and an operation has been mounted to recover the debris of the wreckage that was found in the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.