Swiss Air Force Pilot Ejects After Formation Midair

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Key Takeaways:

  • A Swiss Air Force pilot ejected from their F-5 jet during a practice run for an airshow.
  • The ejection followed an apparent midair collision resulting in part of the tail breaking off.
  • One aircraft landed safely; the other crashed into a pond and caught fire.
  • The ejected pilot sustained injuries but is reportedly in stable condition.
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A pilot on a Swiss Air Force aerobatic team ejected from his jet after an apparent midair collision Thursday. News outlets including swissinfo posted Twitter photos of an F-5 with a piece of its tail breaking off. That jet landed safely at the local air force base. The aircraft from which the pilot ejected crashed in a pond and caught fire, as seen on witness videos.

A local fire department spokeswoman said the pilot was taken to the hospital and is “doing well,” swissinfo reported. The Patrouille Suisse, which performs with six Northrop F-5 fighters, were in formation practicing for an upcoming airshow near the Dutch city of Leeuwarden, according to media reports.

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