The 37-year-old pilot was “not a criminal”, but a “deserving pilot in the Swiss Air Force”, the auditor (prosecutor) said Wednesday before Military Court 2 in Aarau. However, the pilot made a mistake while approaching Patrouille Suisse’s other Tiger jet.
The pilot flew “too aggressively and without visibility,” the auditor said. Without visual contact, he tried to cross the other Tiger fighter plane while flying under. However, it should never be flown blind in aerobatic formations.
The defense called for acquittal and punishment for the pilot on Wednesday.
During a training flight for the “Open Days Air Force Netherlands” on the afternoon of 9 June 2016, two “Northrop F-5 E Tiger II” fighter jets of Patrouille Suisse collided near Leeuwarden Air Base.
(SDA)