A Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter crashed near Szolnok, Hungary, on Monday, August 24, with the pilot successfully ejecting from the aircraft.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar confirmed the accident shortly after it occurred. According to the initial information released by the government, the pilot survived and no other injuries or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported.
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Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi subsequently said the pilot was being transported by ambulance but had not been injured. According to the minister, the pilot attempted to keep the aircraft within military property before ejecting.
The cause of the crash remains unknown and an investigation has been opened. The defence minister and the Chief of the General Staff were travelling to the accident site on Monday morning.
The accident occurred near Szolnok, approximately 55 nm (100 km) southeast of Budapest. The Hungarian Gripen fleet is normally based at Kecskemét Air Base, about 40 nm (75 km) southwest of Szolnok.
Hungary has operated the Gripen since 2006 and recently completed a small but significant expansion of its fighter fleet.
Four additional Gripen C fighters were ordered in February 2024 under an amendment to the agreement between Hungary and Sweden. The first two aircraft arrived at Kecskemét in April 2026, followed by the final pair on June 23.
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Their delivery increased the Hungarian inventory from 14 to 18 Gripen C/D fighters, comprising 16 single-seat Gripen Cs and two two-seat Gripen Ds. The aircraft are used for national air defence and Hungary's commitments to NATO.
It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft involved in Monday's accident was one of the four recently delivered Gripen Cs.
Hungary's aircraft are earlier-generation Gripen C/D fighters rather than the newer Gripen E that are operated by Sweden and Brazil. Saab and Hungary have continued upgrading the fleet, including the MS20 Block 2 standard, which expands weapons and communications capabilities and enables integration of weapons including the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
The Hungarian government has not yet released the registration of the aircraft involved or details about the flight being conducted when the accident occurred.
