SOURCE: Xinhua
An international participant in Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black 24 has managed to survive after ejecting from an aircraft on Wednesday morning during flying operations in a remote region of Northern Territory (NT).
A spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Defence told Xinhua that the military personnel responded at 10:45 a.m. local time to an aircraft emergency in the exercise area and coordinated the recovery of the pilot with a search and rescue helicopter.
The exercise participant made immediate contact with the aircrew in the area via radio following the ejection. The pilot arrived at the hospital by helicopter around 1:30 p.m. local time, said the spokesperson, adding that all flying for the remainder of the day has been canceled.
NT Police confirmed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the incident unfolded about 18 kilometers southwest of Daly River.
“The pilot has been conveyed to hospital for precautionary checks but is otherwise safe and well,” said a police spokesperson.
Held every two years, Exercise Pitch Black is renowned as Australia’s biggest international air combat training activity that focuses on large force employment missions.
According to the Department of Defence, the event runs from July 12 to Aug. 2 this year involving approximately 140 aircraft and over 4,000 personnel from 20 nations, the largest participation in its 43-year history.
The exercise is conducted primarily from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory while RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland hosts additional tanker and transport aircraft operating.
For the first time, the Italian Air Force joined 19 other nations to participate in this year’s activity.
Australian Authorities didn’t reveal further details regarding the identity or nationality of the pilot involved, whereas media reports said that Italy’s defense ministry issued a brief statement over the crash of a “Eurofighter Typhoon warplane.”
“The pilot quickly ejected. He is in good health and is completing medical tests at a hospital,” said the Italian military.