Eurofighter crash: ejector seat could have failed

After the death of a eurofighter pilot in the crash of his aircraft, there are suspicions that the ejection seat of the 27-year-old could not have tripped.

Initial evidence at the wreckage nourished these doubts, wrote the "bild" newspaper on thursday. For example, partially intact explosive material had been found to blow away the cockpit canopy prior to egress.

The german press agency received confirmation from military circles on thursday that it was also being investigated whether the ejector seat of a machine had been drawn by lot. Officially, however, the air force did not take part in speculations. The result of examinations must be waited for.

Two eurofighters collided and crashed over the mecklenburg lake district during a combat flight exercise on monday. One pilot saved himself with the ejection seat and survived the accident injured, the other one died. The aircraft belonged to squadron 73 "steinhoff", which is stationed in laage near rostock. This is where eurofighter pilots are trained.

Neubrandenburg public prosecutor's office has initiated investigation on initial suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. It must be determined whether human error or a technical cause led to the collapse and crash on monday afternoon, said official spokeswoman beatrix heuer. The air force has already secured the flight recorders, whose data are still being analyzed.

The german armed forces were preparing to remove the two wrecked eurofighters near nossentiner hutte. The recovery operation is scheduled to begin in the next few days. The fuselages of the machines are to be closely examined together with parts found in laage to determine the cause of the accident. A eurofighter weighs about 11 tons empty, is 16 meters long and has a wingspan of 11 meters.