A JAS 39C Gripen fighter operated by the Hungarian Defence Forces crashed on Monday, August 24, at a military base near Szolnok in central Hungary. The pilot ejected in time, while preliminary official information indicated that no one was injured and no civilian infrastructure was damaged.

The accident occurred a few minutes after 10:00 local time under circumstances that have yet to be established. An investigation has been launched, with experts working to determine the technical and operational factors that preceded the crash, the Hungarian Ministry of Defence announced.

The pilot was conscious and in stable condition following the ejection. He was transported by emergency medical helicopter to a military hospital in Budapest for examination and further observation.

“Although we have lost an extremely valuable aircraft, the most important thing is that the pilot is well and no civilians were injured,” Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said after arriving at the crash site.

Chief of the Defence Staff Zsolt Sándor stated that the pilot had attempted to keep the aircraft under control until the final moments, directing it away from populated areas. The Gripen ultimately came down within military grounds, avoiding danger to local residents and nearby infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Defence, the aircraft was participating in a training activity related to maintaining combat readiness.

The ejection seat supplied by British manufacturer Martin-Baker played a crucial role in saving the pilot. The company confirmed that the Hungarian Gripen involved in the accident was fitted with its S10LS ejection seat and recorded the event as the 7,827th life saved using one of its seats. Martin-Baker has kept a record of successful ejections involving its seats in military aircraft around the world.

Before the accident, Hungary operated a fleet of 18 Gripen C/D aircraft, comprising 16 single-seat Gripen Cs and two two-seat Gripen Ds. The final two additional aircraft arrived at Kecskemét Air Base in June 2026, completing the fleet expansion agreed under a 2024 amendment to the contract with Sweden. The aircraft are used to protect Hungarian and NATO airspace and participate in international air-policing missions, according to Saab.

Hungary also recorded serious incidents involving its Gripens in 2015. In June of that year, a single-seat JAS 39C experienced a nose landing gear problem and made an emergency belly landing at Kecskemét. The pilot ejected after the aircraft touched down, while the jet was subsequently repaired and returned to service. A month earlier, a Hungarian two-seat Gripen D overran the runway at Čáslav Air Base in the Czech Republic, with both crew members ejecting safely.

The cause of the accident near Szolnok remains unknown. Hungarian authorities said further information would be released after investigators examine the wreckage and collect the available flight data. Basic details of the accident were also confirmed by Reuters.