The Italian Air Force deployed four Eurofighter F-2000 Typhoons in Australia during Exercise ‘Pitch Black' 2024. This photograph of the four aircraft was taken on 5 July 2024, when the force arrived at RAAF Base Darwin. (Commonwealth of Australia)
A Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana: AMI) has crashed in Australia while participating in Exercise ‘Pitch Black' 2024.
The aircraft crashed on 24 July after “encountering an unknown issue during a training flight”, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said, adding that the pilot ejected safely from the aircraft.
In a statement to the press, Air Commodore Pete Robinson, commander of ‘Pitch Black' 2024, said that the pilot's parachute opened “a few 1,000 ft above ground level”. Air Cdre Robinson added that the pilot landed with minor injuries.
The pilot made contact with aircrews in the area via radio at 1045 h local time, the DoD said. “Australian Defence Force personnel in Darwin and Tindal responded immediately, co-ordinating the location and recovery of the pilot. The pilot was transported to hospital in Darwin … for precautionary checks,” the DoD added.
According to information published by Australia's Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES), the aircraft crashed south of the Daly River. Air Cdre Robinson said that the aircraft impacted the ground about 12 km south of the community of Naiuyu.
The AMI said that it began flight operations at ‘Pitch Black' on 15 July. It is the AMI's first participation in the multinational Australian-hosted exercise, according to the Australian DoD.
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