Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet crashes near Rovaniemi, pilot ejects safely

A Finnish Air Force F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet crashed near Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) in northern Finland on the morning of May 7, 2025, at 10:50 local time, the military confirmed. The aircraft fell within a designated military area, prompting an emergency response. 

According to the Finnish Defence Forces, the pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft and walked to the rescue vehicle unassisted. The pilot was transported to a health facility for further examination and was subsequently discharged. There are no reported injuries on the ground. Finnish military authorities are expected to launch an investigation. 

The Finnish Air Force reported that the Hornet, with fuselage number HN-409, was on a demonstration flight exercise focused on aerobatic maneuvers, not a routine patrol or training sortie at the time of the crash. The incident took place 5 minutes after takeoff.

The aircraft crashed near the runway but drifted into the corner of the construction site of future F-35 facilities at the Lapland Air Force Base.

Rescue operations were underway following the crash, and the area around the wreckage has been cordoned off. Public broadcaster YLE reported heavy black smoke rising from the crash site, and local police closed the road leading to the airport. 

Finavia reported that the accident did not disrupt airport operations or passenger traffic. The nearby construction site sustained no significant damage, and work is expected to continue as planned.

Rovaniemi Airport is a dual-use airport serving both civilian and military operations and is located near the Arctic Circle. It is the second busiest airport in Finland after Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL).  

The Finnish Air Force operates a fleet of Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters, which have served as the country’s primary multirole combat aircraft since the late 1990s. The Finnish Hornets are set to be gradually replaced by the F-35A Lightning II, with Finland having ordered 64 of the fifth-generation jets in 2022 to modernize its air defense capabilities. The post Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet crashes near Rovaniemi, pilot ejects safely appeared first on AeroTime.

Go to Source