The crash occurred on Wednesday morning (7) in Rovaniemi; the pilot was rescued alive and taken for medical evaluation
An F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet from the Finnish Air Force crashed on Wednesday morning (7) around 11 a.m. (local time), near the military airport of Rovaniemi, in the north of the country. The pilot managed to activate the ejection seat in time and was rescued alive, then taken for further medical exams.
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According to official information, the accident occurred within the military zone and no civilian casualties were reported. Rescue teams secured the area and continue working on site to ensure safety and gather evidence.
Witnesses reported that the aircraft was flying at low altitude in a residential area, unusual for this type of operation. “The plane climbed steeply and then flipped upside down. After a few seconds, I saw a cloud of black smoke. I didn’t see fire, just smoke,” said a local resident.
The causes of the accident are still under investigation, but the main hypothesis so far is a technical failure. A specialized commission has been appointed to investigate and is expected to present a report in the coming days.
The aircraft involved was reportedly a single-seat F/A-18C Hornet, widely used by Finland alongside the twin-seat F/A-18D version. Currently, the Finnish Air Force operates 61 Hornet jets, although the phase-out process for these models is set to begin in 2025.
As a replacement, the Finnish government has already ordered 64 fifth-generation F-35 fighters from the United States, with deliveries scheduled through 2026. In 2023, the country even considered sending some of its F/A-18s to Ukraine.
Source and images: X @FinnishAirForce. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
