2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash

On 26 January 2015, an F-16 jet fighter of the Hellenic Air Force crashed into the flight line at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people: the two crew members and nine on the ground. Twenty-one others, all on the ground, were also injured.[1]

2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash
084, the F-16 involved in the accident, photographed in 2008
Accident
Date26 January 2015 (2015-01-26)
SummaryUnder investigation
SiteLos Llanos Air Base, Albacete, Spain
38°56′54″N 01°51′48″W
Total fatalities11
Total injuries21
Aircraft
Aircraft typeGeneral Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon
OperatorHellenic Air Force
Registration084
Occupants2
Crew2
Fatalities2
Survivors0
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities9
Ground injuries21

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.[2]

Accident

On 26 January 2015, one of the Greek F-16s crashed into other aircraft at the base just after takeoff, causing an explosion which killed 9 people. A total of five aircraft on the ground were damaged or destroyed, including two Italian AMXs, two French Alpha Jets, and one French Mirage 2000.

Those killed included the two Greek crew members of the F-16 and eight French personnel on the ground. 21 individuals were injured, six of them severely. The following day, a French airman who was severely burned in the accident died, bringing the death toll to eleven.[3]

In addition to the loss of personnel, the crash resulted in the write-off of two Dassault Mirage 2000D fighters and two Alpha Jet trainers of the French Air Force. Two of its Dassault Rafales were also severely damaged.[4]

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.[5]

References
  1. "Fighter jet crash kills 10 in Spain". BBC News. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  2. "341 Squadron TLP 2015-1". airforce.gr. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  3. Gonzalez, Miguel; Precedo, José (27 January 2015). "Crashed F-16 fighter fell in "worst possible place," says military". El País. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. "France reveals extent of Albacete disaster losses". Janes Defence. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. "Greek fighter jet crash 'due to takeoff fault'". BBC News. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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