2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash

2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash
084, the F-16 involved in the accident, photographed in 2008
Accident
Date26 January 2015 (2015-01-26)
SummaryCrashed on take-off due to incorrect takeoff configuration[1]
SiteLos Llanos Air Base, Albacete, Spain
38°56′54″N 01°51′48″W / 38.94833°N 1.86333°W / 38.94833; -1.86333
Total fatalities11
Total injuries33
Aircraft
Aircraft typeGeneral Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon
OperatorHellenic Air Force
Registration084
Occupants2
Crew2
Fatalities2
Survivors0
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities9
Ground injuries33 (34 initially)

On 26 January 2015, an F-16D Fighting Falcon jet fighter of the Hellenic Air Force crashed into a flight line shortly after take-off at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people: the two crew members and nine personnel on the ground. Thirty-three others, all on the ground, were injured.[1][2]

Background

Los Llanos Air Base is the venue of NATO's Tactical Leadership Program (TLP), a regular series of training exercises for personnel from ten NATO member air forces. In January 2015, during TLP2015-1, several NATO air forces deployed aircraft to the base, including four F-16 Block 50 fighter aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force's 341st Squadron, supported by 41 pilots and technicians from the 111th Combat Wing, based at Nea Anchialos Air Base.[3]

Accident

On 26 January 2015, one of the Greek F-16s crashed into other aircraft at Shelter D-4 of the air base shortly after takeoff, causing an explosion which killed 9 people. Approximately one and a half seconds before impact, the back seat pilot ejected from the aircraft followed shortly by the front seat pilot half a second later. Both pilots suffered fatal injuries.[1][4]

Those killed included the two Greek crew members of the F-16 and eight French personnel on the ground. 34 individuals were injured, 17 of them severely. The following day, a French airman who was severely burned in the accident died, bringing the death toll to eleven.[1][5]

In addition to the loss of personnel, the crash resulted in the write-off of two Dassault Mirage 2000D fighters, two Alpha Jet trainers of the French Air Force and one AMX A-11 Ghibli of the Italian Air Force. One French Dassault Rafale was also slightly damaged along with a second Italian A-11 and a US Air Force F-15E.[1][6]

Investigation

Initial findings were that a technical fault developed on board the F-16 during take-off, and the two crew members had tried to eject.[7] Aviation analyst Sean Maffett told the BBC News Channel that it was "difficult to imagine how the accident had occurred, because the runway where the aircraft was taking off was about 1,000 ft (305m) away from where the crash apparently took place."

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Spanish Safety Investigation Board (SIB) Final Report" (PDF). Safety Investigation Board (SIB). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Fighter jet crash kills 10 in Spain". BBC News. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  3. ^ "341 Squadron TLP 2015-1". airforce.gr. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Spanish Safety Investigation Board (SIB) Final Report Appendix B" (PDF). Safety Investigation Board (SIB). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ^ Gonzalez, Miguel; Precedo, José (27 January 2015). "Crashed F-16 fighter fell in "worst possible place," says military". El País. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  6. ^ "France reveals extent of Albacete disaster losses". Janes Defence. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Greek fighter jet crash 'due to takeoff fault'". BBC News. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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