Watch the Terrifying Moment an EF-18 Hornet Plunges Towards Spectators at Gijon Airshow. Pilot’s “Superhuman” Evasive Action Averted Catastrophe After Unexpected Obstacle
July 29, 2025: Over the weekend, a Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet fighter jet almost crashed into a packed beach in Gijon during an airshow. Viral videos caught the heart-stopping moment on Sunday near San Lorenzo Bay when the airplane seemed to lose control but then miraculously regained it.
Spanish Hornet’s Close Call at Gijon Airshow Goes Viral; Pilot’s Quick Action Averted Disaster After Bird Strike
A lot of people have shared video on social media of the Hornet flying very low over a busy beach when it suddenly rolled hard to the right. The sudden turn had the jet drop dangerously low, making it look like it had lost control in midair for a short time. The pilot skillfully regained control and climbed higher, despite the crowd’s gasps and the plane’s obvious black smoke.
Later, the Spanish Air Force went on X (previously Twitter) to explain what happened. They said that the pilot did the evasive maneuver to avoid a flock of birds in the jet’s flight path. This quick move, which is part of routine procedure, was very important in stopping a bird hit that could have been quite bad and caused a big disaster over the crowded beach.
“Many of you have asked us, therefore in this thread, we’ll tell you what happened at the Gijon air festival. As you can see, one of our F-18 warplanes changed course when it saw a swarm of birds in its route. The Spanish Air Force’s post said, “This action is part of the standard protocol to protect the safety of both the pilot and the public.”
They also praised the training of their pilots, saying that they could respond to unexpected occurrences in milliseconds. “In this case, the pilot acted very quickly and professionally, avoiding a possible crash without ruining the show.” At every air show, safety is and will always be our main priority. Thanks to everyone who came for your excitement and trust. The statement ended with, “Let’s keep flying together.”
This is identical to what happened last month when a bird hit the canopy of a Spanish EF2000 aircraft during an airshow routine and broke it. This shows how dangerous these high-performance displays are all the time.