An investigation has been launched after a Gripen fighter jet from the Hungarian Defense Force crashed at Szolnok military base.
On August 24, 2026, at around 11:00, local time, Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted a statement confirming that a Gripen fighter crashed “a few minutes ago”
Prime Minister Magyar confirmed that the pilot was able to eject safely from the aircraft, and the Minister of Defense was on his way to the scene.
“Based on the preliminary report, there were no injuries and no damage to civilian infrastructure,” the prime minister said.
Shortly after the Hungarian leader’s message, the Minister of Defense Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi also confirmed details of the crash.
For reasons not yet known, one of the Hungarian Defence Forces' Gripen fighter jets crashed near Szolnok a few minutes ago. The pilot successfully ejected. An investigation is underway, and the Minister of Defence is on his way to the scene.
— Magyar Péter (Ne féljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) August 24, 2026
Based on the preliminary report,…
He said the reasons for the crash are currently unclear, and that the incident occurred a few minutes after 10:00 at the Szolnok military base.
According to the minister, no one else was injured in the accident.
In a video message on Facebook, Ruszin-Szendi said the pilot had been taken to hospital by ambulance.
Unverified footage of the apparent crash site has been shared on social media. A cloud of smoke can be seen rising from the ground, and the sound of emergency vehicles can be heard.