Pilot error caused 2016 collision between two Swiss jets
A mid-air collision between two fighter jets from the Swiss air force aerobatic display team in the Netherlands in 2016 was probably caused by pilot error, military investigators have reported.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone SDA/sb
Español
es
Posible error humano en colisión de aviones suizos
On June 9, 2016, two F-5 Patrouille Suisse aircraft, which were training for an air show, collided near a northern Dutch air base at Leeuwarden, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Amsterdam.
One plane crashed into 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.
A final report, released on Thursday by Swiss military investigatorsExternal link, said the pilot suspected of having caused the collision was not properly aware of the situation at the time. It said the pilot had lost sight of the second aircraft and had returned to flying formation without reporting the matter by radio.
The investigation said there had been no misconduct by the second pilot involved in the accident. Visibility and weather conditions were good, and both aircraft were in perfect condition.
An ordinary enquiry has been opened against the pilot suspected of having caused the accident. He is accused of misuse and waste of military equipment, as well as non-compliance with service instructions.
The destroyed jet is estimated to have cost CHF800,100 ($800,100), while material damage to the jet that landed safely amounted to CHF146,000. Recovering the wreckage, repairing the greenhouse and cleaning up the pond added an additional €1.25 million.
Black period
2016 was a bad year for the Swiss air force. In addition to the accident in the Netherlands, a Super-Puma helicopter crashed near the St Gothard Pass in September, killing the two pilots and seriously injuring an assistant pilot. In August, a trainee pilot died when his F/18 jet crashed at the Susten Pass in central Switzerland.
After the Leeuwarden collision and an accident in February 2017 at the skiing world championships in St Moritz, the Swiss air force introduced stricter safety measures for air shows. Solo pilots must now perform at an elevation of 60 metres rather than 46m, and groups will fly at 92m rather than 60m above the ground.
Patrouille Suisse
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. Its goal is to inspire the public and spark young people’s interest in all the aviation professions.
All members of the Patrouille Suisse are professional military pilots or air traffic controllers. There are no Swiss Air Force pilots performing exclusively for air shows, therefore being part of the Patrouille Suisse is an extra task in addition to their everyday jobs.
This content was published on
Nemo brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Switzerland with a victory on Saturday evening in Malmö, Sweden. It is Switzerland's third victory in the history of the music contest.
Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership
This content was published on
On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
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
Two probes look into Patrouille crash
This content was published on
In the incident, two Swiss F-5 fighter jets team collided near a northern Dutch air base, with one crashing in a pond and the other landing safely with a damaged tail. The pilot of the plane that crashed ejected before impact and landed in a greenhouse. He was not badly hurt. Swiss military justice officials…
This content was published on
The Swiss defence ministry said on Friday that two teams had been dispatched to the Netherlands, comprising flight safety specialists and a care team for the pilots. The pilot of the plane that crashed ejected before impact and landed in a greenhouse, said Air Force Commander Aldo Schellenberg at a media conference on Thursday. He…
This content was published on
The Swiss Air Force show teams will take to the skies again later this month – now under stricter safety measures following recent accidents.
This content was published on
A parliamentary committee has been told by Defence Minister Ueli Maurer that there is no longer sufficient finance to continue the six-strong squadron of F-5 Tiger fighter jets beyond 2015. The move would end a 50-year history of the squadron. The announcement has prompted outrage among parliamentarians from different political parties. A number of online…
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.