Terrified sunbathers watch petrifying moment fighter jet swerves to avoid birds

A number of sunbathers enjoying themselves at a beach in Spain were left shocked after a fighter jet swerved after noticing a flock of birds in its path during an air show in Gijon. Footage from the event shows the fighter jet, EF-18A Hornet, flipping upside down and diving sharply toward the sea before pulling away at the last possible moment, startling thousands of beachgoers gathered for the aerial display.

The Spanish Air & Space Force said in a statement about the incident on X: "One of our F-18 fighters performed an evasive manoeuvre upon detecting a flock of birds in its path. This action is part of the standard protocol to preserve both the pilot's safety and the public's security. Our aviators are trained to react in milliseconds to any unforeseen event.

"In this case, the pilot acted with exemplary speed and professionalism, avoiding a possible collision without compromising the exhibition."

Although the manoeuvre was dramatic, the pilot successfully averted a collision and resumed the flight without incident, demonstrating remarkable precision and calm under pressure. With more than 250,000 spectators in attendance, this year's event marked the largest turnout in the festival's history.

Established in 2006, the festival has grown into one of Spain's premier aviation events, drawing spectators annually to San Lorenzo Beach. Central to this year's display was the EF-18A Hornet, a £21.7 million American-made multirole fighter jet.

Spain acquired its fleet of Hornets in the 1980s, becoming the first European operator of the aircraft. These jets have since played a pivotal role in NATO-led missions, including combat operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, where Spanish Hornets flew ground attack and air patrol sorties from Aviano Air Base in Italy.

More recently, in July 2024, footage surfaced showing what appeared to be a Spanish EF-18A flying in close proximity to a Russian Su-30SM over the Baltic Sea, part of Spain's ongoing contribution to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission.

The incident underscored the Hornet's enduring role in both national defense and international security operations.