Swedish SH37 Viggen crashes photographing new Russian cruiser
IN AN EPISODE reminiscent of the Cold War, a Swedish air force reconnaissance aircraft crashed on 16 October while on a low-level pass over a new Russian cruiser at sea for the first time.
The Saab SH37 Viggen crashed about 110km (60nm) south-east of Gotland Island. Latvian and Russian authorities mounted a rescue operation, but they did not find the pilot.
The SH37, with an SF37 Viggen variant, was carrying out low-level passes of the Russian navy's largest cruiser, Peter the Great, which had put to sea for the first time.
Russian military officials say that the SH37 hit the water 700m in front of the cruiser, after the pilot made a right turn at very low altitude. They maintain that no weapons had been fired from any one of the Russian vessels.
Swedish armed forces officials say that while the cause of the accident is not yet clear, a Russian Beriev Be-12 amphibious aircraft had appeared on the scene, possibly distracting the Viggen pilots." The Be-12 appeared in front of our two Viggen aircraft," says the Swedish air force.
"We don't know yet, but it is possible that the Be-12 aircraft disrupted the manoeuvre of the SH37 aircraft. It could to some extent be due to the Be-12," it adds.
Source: Flight International
