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Spanish EF-18 Hornet crashes, killing pilot

Experienced Spanish Air Force pilot dies in EF-18 Hornet crash near Teruel.

A Spanish Air Force F-18 Hornet crashed near Peralejos, in the province of Teruel, eastern Spain, at around 12:30 p.m. LT on Friday, October 4, 2024, killing the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Estrada Martín . The 49-year-old officer, highly respected in the Ejército del Aire y el Espacio, was unable to eject from the EF-18M (according to the local designation, where E stands for Espana – Spain), resulting in his immediate death led to impacts, according to the Air Force's official statement.

The aircraft belonged to Ala 12 (12th Wing), a unit based at the Torrejón de Ardoz air base near Madrid that plays an important role in Spanish air defense and combat training. The crash occurred in a remote area 18 kilometers north of the capital Teruel. Lt. Col. Estrada, the only casualty in the accident, was on a training mission alongside another Hornet at the time of the crash.

Local authorities responded quickly to the incident. The mayor of Peralejos, Carlos López, reported the events that led to the crash. Here's what he told local media:

I was working in the field when I saw two fighter jets fly overhead. Moments later I saw one of them sink in a place we call Estrecho del Hornillo

López was one of the first to arrive at the crash site, where he observed debris from the plane scattered across the area, accompanied by a small fire.

Authorities immediately dispatched emergency teams to the scene of the accident. Firefighters and civil protection units from both the regional government of Aragon and the Spanish central government were deployed to deal with the situation. Officials confirmed that the accident occurred in a sparsely populated area, minimizing the risk to civilians.

Apparently the exact cause of the crash remains unclear. An investigation will review the course of the flight to determine whether environmental factors or human error may have played a role.

Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Estrada Martín, born September 24, 1975, was a highly decorated and experienced pilot. With over 2,358 flight hours over the course of his career, including 970 hours in the F-18 fighter jet, he was considered a key figure in the Air Force. Estrada served in numerous high-level roles, including Chief of Air Force Operations for the 12th Wing, and was a graduate of the 51st Promotion of the Spanish Aerospace Academy. During his career he received three awards for merit in aviation as well as the prestigious Cross and Commandery of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegildo. He also received NATO Medal No. 5 for his participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The Spanish F-18 Hornet fleet, procured from the mid-1980s, remains a crucial asset for the Spanish Air Force. Spain originally acquired 72 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets. These jets have been improved over the years to maintain their effectiveness in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. To increase its operational range, Spain has also added 24 former US Navy Hornets to the fleet and deployed them to key areas, including the Canary Islands. Despite the extensive modernization, the age of the fleet has led to increasing maintenance challenges, particularly with regard to the engines and avionics.

On May 20, 2023, an EF-18M from Ala 15 crashed during a solo exhibition rehearsal at Zaragoza Air Base. The pilot managed to get out, but suffered significant injuries. While the pilot's quick actions saved his life, the crash raised concerns about the reliability of Spain's aging F-18 fighter jet fleet, which has been in service for decades.





Previously, on October 17, 2017, a pilot died when an Ala 12 EF-18M Hornet crashed during a take-off accident at Torrejon Air Base.

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