Italian Air Force Eurofighter Lost in Accident at Exercise Pitch Black

An Italian Air Force (itAF) Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft crashed this July 24 at the ongoing Exercise Pitch Black 24 after it encountered an unknown issue during a training flight. The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was transported to a hospital in Darwin, where he was confirmed to be uninjured.

“We train for these scenarios as part of all of our safety planning and I was pleased to see the integration of international personnel with our own to coordinate the search, rescue and recovery of the pilot to hospital within three hours,” said Exercise Commander, Air Commodore Peter Robinson.

The site, outside of the Darwin and Katherine flying areas, is now the subject of a safety investigation.

This is the first time that the itAF is participating at Exercise Pitch Black.

The participating aircraft comprised of six F-35A and F-35B, four Eurofighters, supported by a KC-767A air-to-air-refueling aircraft and an E-550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) plane as a command-and-control platform.

Exercise Pitch Blackinvolves about 140 aircraft, 4500 personnel and 20 nations for air exercises held in Australia’s Northern Territory.