Breaking: crash Swiss Air Force F-5E
On 26 May 2021, a Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force) F-5E Tiger II crashed near Melchsee-Frutt.
This mountain resort village is located at 1,920 metres (6,300 feet) above sea level. It is located near the lake Melchsee, in the municipality of Kerns, canton Obwalden.
The Tiger II with serial J-3089 crashed in an uninhabited area. The pilot ejected safely and is unharmed.
An investigation into the cause of the accident has started.
Next to the Patrouille Suisse, based at Emmen, the air force still operates F-5E and F-5F fighters with Fliegerstaffel 6, Fliegerstaffel 19 and Ausbieldungsstaffel 16, all at Payerne.
According to the Scramble Magazine database, the Swiss Air Force still has 36 F-5E/F Tiger IIs as active, although some of them have not been seen for a period of time. Originally, the air force operated 110 Tiger IIs, divided in 98 F-5Es and 12 F-5Fs. Most of the Tigers have been sold to the US Navy.
Photo by Jeremy Denton via Jetphotos.com