A Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen crashed near Szolnok in central Hungary on Monday morning, according to Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
The pilot successfully ejected and survived. Preliminary information indicated that nobody on the ground was injured and no civilian infrastructure was damaged.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. An investigation has been launched, while Hungary’s defence minister was travelling to the accident site.
The aircraft’s variant and registration have not yet been officially disclosed. Hungary operates a fleet of Gripen C and two-seat Gripen D fighters from Kecskemét Air Base. Following the delivery of four additional aircraft in 2026, the fleet comprised 18 Gripens before the accident.
Source: Hungarian Defence Forces