At the Gijon Aviation Festival held last Sunday in Spain, an F-18 Hornet model fighter jet of the Spanish Air Force flew close to sunbathers and spectators on the beach during a demonstration flight, causing moments of fear.

The 19th Gijon Aviation Festival, which was held in Spain last Sunday, was the scene of heart-wrenching moments. An F-18 Hornet fighter jet of the Spanish Air Force came unusually close to sea level during a maneuver at a demonstration on a beach in San Lorenzo Bay in the Asturias autonomous region in northwestern Spain, causing moments of panic. The airplane, which turned upside down in the sky, flew in such a way as to graze the sand, reflected on the cameras of those on the beach. The footage of the plane flying away from the coastline after completing its maneuver raised questions on social media about whether the situation was an impending accident or a calculated demonstration flight.

“Our pilot performed an evasive maneuver after detecting a flock of birds”

The Spanish Air Force said in a statement: "As seen, our F-18 pilot performed an evasive maneuver after detecting a flock of birds in the flight path. This is a standard protocol that guarantees the safety of the pilot and the public. Our airmen are trained to react to any unforeseen event within milliseconds. In this context, our pilot demonstrated exemplary speed and professionalism.