Fatal F/A-18 crash on the Susten Pass This radio communication cost the young military pilot his life
In August 2016, an F/A-18 crashed in the Alps. Now an air traffic controller and a pilot are standing trial before a military court. The radio traffic was read out today, providing an insight into the exact course of the drama.
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- The military court is hearing the fighter jet crash on the Susten Pass this week.
- The 27-year-old pilot died in the crash of an F/A-18 in August 2016.
- The accident is said to have been caused by incorrect altitude information provided by the pilot. An improper take-off is also at the center of the investigation.
- Today, various witnesses testified before the military court, providing a more concrete picture of the day of the accident.
In 2016, an air force fighter jet collided with a rock face near the Susten Pass. The pilot lost his life.
Shortly after the accident, there were increasing indications that the pilot's death could have been caused by a third party. He is said to have received false information from air traffic control over the radio.
At the end of March 2023, military justice brought charges against a skyguide air traffic controller and an air force pilot. They have until January 9 to answer to the Military Court 2 in Muttenz.
Both men are charged with negligent homicide, among other things. The presumption of innocence applies to them.
Radio traffic on the day of the accident shows fatal error
In the meantime, several witnesses have testified in court and the indictment has been read out. The radio traffic that presumably led to the fatal crash of the fighter jet will also be published. According to CH Media, it went as follows:
Trailer (the young pilot): "Trailer ehh is ehh broke lock." (He reports the breakdown of the radar connection to the "leader", the accused experienced second F/A-18 pilot that day).
Pilot: "Trailer roger, cleared level FL190." (The controller gives the pilot permission to climb to an altitude of 6,000 meters above sea level).
Trailer: "Cleared FL190, Trailer." (The pilot confirms the altitude.)
Pilot: "Trailer, confirm you have radar contact with the Leader?" (The trailer should confirm whether it has radar contact with the "leader" pilot).
Trailer: "... uhhh, unable ..." (The pilot says no.)
Pilot: "Level off at ehhh FL100."
This is the fatal misinformation: the controller gives the pilot the wrong altitude. Flight altitude 100 corresponds to 3,000 meters above sea level. The correct altitude would be 150; 4,000 meters above sea level.
The two figures correspond to the briefing before take-off. Altitude 100 applied in the morning when the jets were due to take off towards the lake. 150 applies for take-offs towards the mountains.
Originally, the planes were to take off from Meiringen in a westerly direction at an altitude of 100. Due to the weather, however, they took off to the east, where an altitude of 150 would have been appropriate.
Finally, the controller says to both F/A-18 pilots:
"Leader and Trailer contact Batman." (He hands over the communication to air traffic control in Dübendorf, called "Batman").
The pilots then change the radio frequency. Seconds later, the air traffic controller realizes his mistake. He tries to reach the operations center in Dübendorf by telephone. But it is too late. 58 seconds after the incorrect altitude information, the F/A-18 crashes on the Susten Pass at an altitude of 3,319 meters above sea level.