Spain Military Plane Crashes After National Day Parade

 

 

The Eurofighter crashed near to the Los Llanos air base in Albacete south of Madrid at just after midday (local time). 

 

It was reportedly on its way back from participating in a military parade in Madrid to mark Hispanic Day. A spokesman with Spain’s Ministry of Defence said the pilot had been killed.

 

He has been named as Borja Aybar, captain of the 61st Air Force promotion. They say the pilot did not have enough time to jump out of the jet. Several Spanish newspapers have quoted military sources, saying that the pilot had not managed to eject from the cockpit before it crashed. 

 

 

 

Officials say investigations are underway to establish what caused the crash. The crash reportedly took place near a public park, just south of Albacete called La Pulgosa.

 

Police have tweeted from the scene showing the crash site cordoned off. They have told residents not to walk around the area. 

 

The region's president, Emiliano García-Page, tweeted his condolences saying: "Sad news. My condolences and that of all the region of Castilla La Mancha for the death of the pilot in Albacete serving Spain # 12ofOctober

 

Footage from the apparent crash site shows black plumes of smoke billowing into the skies. Hispanic Day is an annual national Bank Holiday commemorating when Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas in 1492.