Military trial Fighter jet crash on the Susten: air traffic controller sentenced to a fine
The accused air traffic controller has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the military trial concerning the fatal accident involving a fighter jet pilot in the Susten region in August 2016. The Military Court of Appeal 2 sentenced him to a conditional fine.
28.03.2025, 14:07
28.03.2025, 14:53
SDA
The second instance court sentenced the 42-year-old skyguide air traffic controller on Friday in Aarau to a conditional fine of 60 daily rates of CHF 190.
He had already been sentenced in the first instance to a conditional fine of 60 daily rates. He and the auditor - the prosecutor - appealed the conviction. The air traffic controller wanted to be acquitted.
Flight altitude ordered too low
Military Court of Appeal 2 found the man guilty of involuntary manslaughter because he had ordered the F/A-18 pilot who had crashed in Meiringen BE to fly at too low an altitude on August 29, 2016.
In justifying the verdict, the court president said that if the air traffic controller had ordered the specified minimum flight altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters above sea level) instead of the incorrect 10,000 feet (3,048 meters above sea level), the collision with the mountain would not have occurred. "Your radio message triggered the maneuver and the collision," he said.
The radio message was an instruction - and then the pilot was allowed to trust it. The air traffic controller could have corrected the order later. However, the court also conceded that there had been a "chain of unfortunate circumstances".
The 27-year-old pilot had collided with the side of the Hinter Tierberg mountain during a training flight after take-off in Meiringen. He lost his life. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the violent impact.
Acquittal for second pilot
Military Court of Appeal 2 confirmed the acquittal of the second fighter jet pilot. He had already been acquitted of the charge of involuntary manslaughter in the first instance at the beginning of 2024.
The auditor wanted a conviction for involuntary manslaughter. The 41-year-old professional Swiss Air Force pilot had taken off from Meiringen before the pilot who died in the accident.
