Fighter jet crashes into ground after parade, pilot killed

A Spanish air force Eurofighter Typhoon crashed after taking part in a military parade in Madrid, killing the pilot.

The scene where the Typhoon crashed. Video: Twitter.

A Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet crashed in Albacete, 300 km southeast of Madrid, killing the pilot, the Spanish Defense Ministry said today. The plane was returning to base after participating in a military parade in Madrid, Reuters reported.

A spokesman for the Spanish Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Typhoon was preparing to land and the pilot did not have time to eject. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The Spanish government held a military parade in Madrid today to commemorate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas and to show solidarity and unity in the face of Catalonia's declaration of independence. The parade, which involved 4,000 soldiers and police along with a variety of military hardware, took place under the supervision of King Felipe IV.

Relations between Spain's central government and the autonomous region of Catalonia are extremely tense. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence from Spain during a session of the autonomous region's parliament on October 10, but postponed the implementation to allow for dialogue with Madrid.

According to VNE