Fighter jet performs dramatic manoeuvre to avoid birds during Spanish air festival
A Spanish fighter jet was forced to drastically change direction after noticing a flock of birds in its path during the Gijón Air Festival, the Spanish Air & Space Force has said.
The EF-18A Hornet aircraft can be seen flying smoothly over San Lorenzo Beach in Asturias before the pilot was forced to take evasive action to avoid a birdstrike.
Footage released on social media shows the Hornet banking sharply to left after swerving to avoid the flock, with a beach full of spectators below.
"One of our F-18 fighters performed an evasive manoeuvre upon detecting a flock of birds in its path," the Spanish Air & Space Force said in a statement about the incident on X.
"This action is part of the standard protocol to preserve both the pilot's safety and the public's security.
"Our aviators are trained to react in milliseconds to any unforeseen event.
"In this case, the pilot acted with exemplary speed and professionalism, avoiding a possible collision without compromising the exhibition."
The Ejército del Aire y del Espacio also reiterated that safety is the main concern at air shows.
Gijón Air Festival was first established in 2006, and about 250,000 people attend the festival.
The American-made jet, which costs £21.7m, is a multi-role warplane.
The Spanish Air & Space Force received its Hornets during the 1980s.
They flew combat missions in Bosnia and Kosovo while being led by Nato command.
In July last year, the Russians released footage of what is believed to have been a Spanish Hornet flying in front of one of their fighter aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
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