Spanish Air Force pilot dies after crashing his F-18 fighter: What We Know

A pilot from the Spanish Air and Space Force died this Friday after crashing an EF-18 fighter jet near the town of Peralejos, in the province of Teruel. The accident occurred during a training flight, according to Air Force sources.

The crash took place around 1:00 PM local time, and the exact causes of the accident are still unknown. The Commission for the Technical Investigation of Aviation Accidents (CITAAM) will begin an investigation to clarify the facts. The Air Force confirmed the pilot’s death via the platform X (formerly Twitter) and expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

🔴 ÚLTIMA HORA | Lamentamos comunicar que se ha confirmado en el accidente del F-18 el fallecimiento de nuestro compañero, el teniente coronel Pablo Estrada Martín, destinado en el Ala 12.

Nos unimos al dolor de sus familiares y amigos. Descansa en paz, compañero. pic.twitter.com/OUim93TANr

— Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (@EjercitoAire) October 4, 2024

The EF-18 fighter jet was part of Wing 12, a combat unit based at Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid). Firefighters from the Teruel Provincial Council were dispatched to the area following the accident, along with the head of the Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 1 of Teruel.

Spain acquired its first EF-18s in the 1980s as part of an effort to modernize its air capabilities within the framework of its NATO role. The jets were assigned to Wing 12, based at Torrejón de Ardoz, and Wing 15, in Zaragoza. These aircraft, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), have been a key component in Spain’s air defense, participating in various surveillance and combat missions.