The fighter jet that crashed near Szolnok on Monday was a single-seat Gripen C, not the latest E/F model. Saab says it will assist the Hungarian investigation, while the crash has also briefly affected the Swedish defence company’s share price.

Saab has confirmed that the Hungarian Gripen fighter jet that crashed near Szolnok on Monday was a single-seat Gripen C. The Hungarian pilot ejected from the aircraft and survived the crash. Hungarian authorities are responsible for investigating what caused the accident, while Saab says it will provide technical assistance to the investigation.

“Of course, Saab will assist in the investigation,” Mattias Rådström, the company’s press manager, told Swedish news agency Direkt.

Gripen developed a fault during a training flight

The aircraft was flying alongside another Gripen during a training exercise when a warning indicating a malfunction appeared in the cockpit. The training mission was aborted, and the two aircraft headed towards Szolnok, as the damaged fighter could reportedly no longer reach Kecskemét.

However, another incident occurred during the final stage of the landing. The pilot decided to eject, after which the aircraft left the runway area and caught fire.

The pilot survived the ejection and is currently reported to be in a stable condition.

Hungary’s air force has suspended Gripen training flights until the investigation is completed. The aircraft assigned to alert and operational duties continue to perform their missions. Investigators have already begun examining the crash site, while data from the fighter’s flight recorder – commonly known as its black box – could prove crucial in determining exactly what happened.

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Could Hungary ground its Gripen fleet?

Saab has not announced a general flight ban for the Gripen following the accident. Asked whether the aircraft could potentially be grounded while the investigation is under way, Rådström said the company would have to return to the question if such a decision became necessary.

The crash leaves Hungary with 17 Gripen aircraft in service.

Saab said in June that it had completed deliveries under an additional agreement signed by Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and Hungary’s Ministry of Defence in January 2024. Hungary had subsequently operated a total of 18 Gripen C/D aircraft: 16 single-seat Gripen C fighters and two two-seat Gripen D aircraft. Hungary has not purchased the newer Gripen E/F variant.

The Gripen is a single-engine, supersonic multirole fighter designed for missions including air combat, ground attack and reconnaissance.

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Saab shares briefly fall after the crash

The accident also had a short-term impact on Saab’s shares on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, according to Világgazdaság. The stock initially reversed an earlier gain of around 0.8% and briefly fell by approximately 0.6% following reports of the Hungarian crash.

The shares subsequently recovered much of the lost ground. By around noon, Saab stock was up approximately 0.1% for the day.