A sunny day at San Lorenzo beach was interrupted by a dramatic plane dive that left spectators in shock, as a Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet suddenly swooped low over the water during the 2025 Festival Aereo Internacional de Gijon .
Footage shows the EF-18 Hornet continuing a normal path before a sudden dive, descending alarmingly close to the beach. However, it climbed back up moments later, trailing dark smoke and leaving the crowd stunned.
The video clip left many confused by this sudden movement, which was later clarified by Spain’s Air and Space Force.
What initially appeared to be a dangerous mishap was a “part of the standard protocol to protect both the pilot's safety and the public's safety,” it said.
“Our aviators are trained to react in milliseconds to any unforeseen event,” the force wrote in a statement on social media platform X.
“In this case, the pilot acted with exemplary speed and professionalism, avoiding a possible impact without compromising the display.”
The incident took place on 28 July 2025 during a low-altitude flypast over the bay, with more than 300,000 spectators, making it the most attended airshow in Gijon’s history, as per Aerotime.
Despite the dramatic moment, no injuries or damage were reported, and the aircraft returned safely to base.
The lineup for the show included performances from the Spanish Air and Space Force, Navy, Search and Rescue units, the National Police, and aerobatic pilots flying light aircraft.
Such close encounters are not uncommon. Just last month, a Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon struck a seagull mid-performance at the Aire25 airshow in Murcia. The impact shattered the cockpit canopy and punctured the windshield, forcing the pilot to abort the routine and make an emergency landing. The pilot escaped unscathed, though the aircraft suffered extensive damage.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), more than 270,000 wildlife-related aircraft incidents occurred globally between 2016 and 2021, with over 8,000 causing significant damage. Bird strikes are especially prevalent at low altitudes near coastlines and migratory paths, conditions typical of summer airshows.
Footage shows the EF-18 Hornet continuing a normal path before a sudden dive, descending alarmingly close to the beach. However, it climbed back up moments later, trailing dark smoke and leaving the crowd stunned.
Muchos nos habéis estado preguntando, por eso, en este hilo, os contamos qué pasó durante el festival aéreo de Gijón.
— Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (@EjercitoAire) July 28, 2025
Hilo 🧵 pic.twitter.com/oyY2ZNESEA
Hoy en el Festival Internacional Aéreo de Gijón podía haber ocurrido una desgracia, si no es por la pericia del Capitán Botana a los mandos del F18 Superhornet. 🙌🏻
— VISUAIR (@Visuair) July 27, 2025
Se comentaba que algún pájaro pudo haber tenido la culpa. ¿Qué opináis?@GijonAirshow @A3Noticias @lanuevaespana pic.twitter.com/PkzU07kxU3
The video clip left many confused by this sudden movement, which was later clarified by Spain’s Air and Space Force.
What initially appeared to be a dangerous mishap was a “part of the standard protocol to protect both the pilot's safety and the public's safety,” it said.
“Our aviators are trained to react in milliseconds to any unforeseen event,” the force wrote in a statement on social media platform X.
“In this case, the pilot acted with exemplary speed and professionalism, avoiding a possible impact without compromising the display.”
The incident took place on 28 July 2025 during a low-altitude flypast over the bay, with more than 300,000 spectators, making it the most attended airshow in Gijon’s history, as per Aerotime.
Despite the dramatic moment, no injuries or damage were reported, and the aircraft returned safely to base.
The lineup for the show included performances from the Spanish Air and Space Force, Navy, Search and Rescue units, the National Police, and aerobatic pilots flying light aircraft.
Such close encounters are not uncommon. Just last month, a Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon struck a seagull mid-performance at the Aire25 airshow in Murcia. The impact shattered the cockpit canopy and punctured the windshield, forcing the pilot to abort the routine and make an emergency landing. The pilot escaped unscathed, though the aircraft suffered extensive damage.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), more than 270,000 wildlife-related aircraft incidents occurred globally between 2016 and 2021, with over 8,000 causing significant damage. Bird strikes are especially prevalent at low altitudes near coastlines and migratory paths, conditions typical of summer airshows.
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