Italian fighter jet crashes in NT outback
A Eurofighter Typhoon F-2000 from the Italian air force crashed in remote bushland in the Northern Territory while participating in Exercise Pitch Black this morning.
CAPTION: An Exercise Pitch Black multi-national formation with French Air and Space Force Rafale B; Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C Fighting Falcon; Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon; and RSAF F-15SG Eagle. Photo by Flying Officer Ben Dunleavy.
Various other media outlets report (because the ADF hasn’t), that the pilot ejected from his fighter jet and was airlifted to the Royal Darwin Hospital for observations around 1pm.
He is reportedly safe and well.
The aircraft went down in the Douglas Daly region in the Northern Territory, southwest of Darwin.
Flying operations on the exercise were halted in the wake of the crash.
On its debut appearance, Italy deployed F-35s, F-2000 Typhoons, a KC-767 refueller and E550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft to Australia for Exercise Pitch Black 2024.
In another historic first, the Italian navy’s flagship aircraft carrier Cavour, is also participating in Exercise Pitch Black, carrying F-35B and AV-8B Harrier II Plus jets as well as NH90 helicopters.
UPDATE: Flying operations on Exercise Pitch Black recommenced the day after the above crash.
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