F-18 fighter jet crashes into the ground at a base in Spain

An F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet burst into flames after crashing at Zaragoza air base in Spain, about 300 km from the capital Madrid.

In a video circulating on Twitter, the US-made F-18 Hornet fighter jet rapidly loses altitude and nose dives towards the ground, before exploding within range of the airbase.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense said on Twitter that the pilot managed to eject from the plane. He was taken to hospital and his life is not in danger. Hours after the crash, the air force said the pilot was “recovering well” but would remain in hospital for “several days.”

The Zaragoza air base belongs to the Spanish Air and Space Force, according to AP. Spain's EFE news agency said the fighter jet was taking part in training for a flying exhibition when the incident occurred.

F-18 fighter jet crashes into the ground at a base in Spain

The plane before crashing to the ground and bursting into flames. Photo: Zaragoza Denuncia/Twitter.

The crashed McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet belonged to Ala 15, part of the Spanish Air Force's Air Combat Command (ARCOM). The F-18 Hornet entered service in Spain in 1986.

Manufactured by Boeing, the F/A-18 McDonnell Douglas was the first aircraft to feature carbon fiber wings and the first tactical fighter to use a digital flight control system.

Spain's Civil Guard said it would cooperate with the military in investigating the crash. They confirmed that according to initial information provided by the pilot, the plane had a malfunction, Military reported.

F-18 fighter jet crashes into the ground at a base in Spain