You might remember two air-crash incidents involving Spanish Air Force F-18s. Well, recent revelations have uncovered some shameful facts.

Fighter-pilot, Lieutenant Fernando Pérez, 26-years old and top of his intake, had refused to take off because of problems with the aircraft – he was then put on a charge by his commander, a colonel, because it was part of a NATO assignment and such a failure would not help the colonel’s chances of promotion.

Only days later, on the 17th of this October, the pilot was due to take off again from Torrejón AFB but the flight mechanic said that he didn’t like the sound of the engine and advised him not to use the aircraft. He responded that he had no choice but to do so and went ahead.

During the take off the was an engine failure with a fatal loss of power. Rather than ejecting, thus saving his own life, he decided to turn the plane over onto its back and plough it into the airfield because of nearby civilian housing.

Today, the 26th of January, TV programme, Las Mañanas Cuatro disclosed an interview with a member of the dead pilot’s squadron who disclosed – using a disguise and distorted voice – the circumstances of Lieutenant Pérez’s death; i.e., that he had been pressured into flying an aircraft that his superiors knew was too dangerous to fly. The squadron, by the way, belongs to the 12th Wing, which is the Air Force’s elite wing.

The Air Force said that as there is an ongoing military enquiry, they could not comment but even so denied that he had been ordered to fly, stating instead that the death was entirely the pilot’s fault.

All opposition party’s are demanding an independent, parliamentary enquiry – the Government opposes this.

(News: Torrejón AFB, Madrid)