Pilot disorientation blamed for Gripen fighter crash

Pilot disorientation blamed for Gripen fighter crash

This photo taken from a video clip shows a ball of smoke and fire rising from the Gripen immediately after it crashed into the ground at Wing 56 in Hat Yai, Songkhla, on Jan 14, 2017.
This photo taken from a video clip shows a ball of smoke and fire rising from the Gripen immediately after it crashed into the ground at Wing 56 in Hat Yai, Songkhla, on Jan 14, 2017.

The air force has concluded that pilot spatial disorientation led to the crash of a Gripen jet fighter in Songkhla province on Children's Day, Jan 14, last year.

Air force spokesman AM Pongsak Semachai said on Thursday the finding emerged from a standard investigation by the Royal Thai Air Force, Swedish Defence Material Administration and SAAB, the plane's manufacturer.

It took into account all the detailed evidence, including the performance of the aircraft and the health of the pilot.

"The probe found that the jet fighter had no problems and the pilot had been well trained. Regarding the incident, spatial disorientation was highly possible," said AM Pongsak.

Spatial disorientation refers to the inability of a pilot to correctly interpret aircraft attitude, altitude or airspeed in relation to the earth or other points of reference.

It could occur even to well-trained pilots and could be caused by any of many factors, including weather conditions, speed, acceleration and swift changes of aircraft orientation. It was one of the most common causes of air crashes, he said.

Sqn Ldr Dilokrit Pattavee, 34, of Surat Thani-based Wing 7, was killed when the Swedish-made Gripen JAS 39C crashed and exploded in front of children and parents near a runway.

The Gripen was one of the nine air force jet fighters taking part in an air show as part of Children's Day activities at Wing 56 in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province.

AM Pongsak said the air force would again have air shows for youngsters on Children's Day this year, which is this Saturday.

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