Spanish Air Force Pilot Killed as Military Plane Crashes in Mediterranean

By Staff, Agencies

The C-101, the same type of a plane used by Spain's air force Eagle Patrol aerobatics team, was on a training flight near an airbase outside the town of San Javier.

The Spanish Defense Ministry said Monday that its military plane had crashed into the sea waters in southeastern Spain.

The pilot of the light attack aircraft has died, a source in the defense ministry said as quoted by La Sexta broadcaster.

The incident occurred at around 9.40 am local time [7.40 GMT]. As soon as the regional emergency services received the information on the crash, they mobilised boats for a rescue operation.

Following the first reports of the incident, the defence ministry stated that the pilot, a flight instructor, was able to eject before the crash.