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Martin “Tinu” H. * (43), Ueli Maurer’s former flagship pilot, has been in front of Military Court 2 in Aarau since Wednesday. The pilot has to answer for the crash of an F / A-18 fighter jet in the French Jura in 2015. The question is whether the 43-year-old could have prevented the crash.
Specifically, the military pilot is charged with multiple negligent breaches of duty regulations. He is also accused of negligent misuse and waste of material. The Lieutenant Colonel of the General Staff had an accident during air combat training on October 14, 2015. He was saved with the ejection seat and suffered minor injuries.
The F / A-18 fighter plane crashed uncontrollably. It bounced in an open field about 60 meters from a farm in a field near the French town of Glamondans, near the Swiss border. The fighter plane burned down and was totally destroyed. There was a total loss in handling of around 55 million Swiss francs, as the indictment shows.
“Everything by default” expired
The F / A-18 pilot (start in Payerne, VD) had flown air combat training as a mission chief with two F-5 Tiger aircraft (start and land in Sion, VS). In the last phase there was a blockage in the left motor.
This resulted in a drop in performance. The plane rolled to the left and quickly lost altitude. The pilot was no longer able to stabilize it and activated the ejection seat.
The two Tiger pilots involved in the flight training testified as witnesses in military court on Thursday. They unanimously clarified that during this training “everything was carried out in a standard way”.
Aviation is training for emergencies. The possibilities of aviation would have to be exhausted. However, that does not mean that regulations are ignored.
It takes a lot of courage to pull the ejection seat
Shortly before the crash, the F / A-18 disappeared into the high fog, the younger Tiger pilot reported. It quickly became clear that “something is wrong.” It was not clear at first if the F / A-18 pilot could save himself.
“I don’t know if I would have had the courage to pull the ejection seat to save my life,” he said. The accident occurred because an engine fell off the F / A-18 in an extremely difficult phase. The pilot had trouble controlling the aircraft. Due to the high angle of attack, the fighter plane was practically uncontrollable.
If you have problems you have to break the rules
The court also interviewed experts who had written reports. They explained many technical details in detail, including the position. For the pilot it was different: It was a “very stressful situation,” said the lead expert.
In case of trouble, a pilot sometimes has to break the rules when responding, another expert said. Not all fighter jet reactions are described in the manuals. The pilot’s reaction was “absolutely understandable.” The chief appraisal officer said: “We have lost some drivers who, unfortunately, did not come out.”
Immediate measures performed incorrectly or not at all
The auditor accuses the F / A-18 pilot of not knowing the minimum flight altitude regulations in visual air combat in the training room and in view of the weather.
It is also said that he violated the duties of care. After the position, he carried out the prescribed immediate measures incorrectly or did not carry out at all. This eventually led to the accident.
The trial in Military Court 2 will continue on Thursday. The accused, who is presumed innocent, is questioned and the auditor and the defense attorney present their arguments. The verdict is expected on Friday.
* Name known to publisher
