Pilot error caused 2016 collision between two Swiss jets
Men help clean up the crash site after two Swiss fighter jets collided on June 9, 2016 near a northern Dutch air base.
Keystone / Anton Kappers
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.
(Source: Swiss Air Force)
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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.