A Hungarian Air Force JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet crashed near the central city of Szolnok during a routine flight on Monday, while the pilot safely ejected and survived without injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, and no civilian casualties or damage were reported.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said the Swedish-made fighter jet went down for reasons that remain unknown. He confirmed that the pilot ejected successfully and that an official investigation had been opened immediately after the crash.

Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said the pilot was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution but did not suffer any injuries. He added that the pilot made every possible effort to ensure the aircraft crashed inside a military area, preventing harm to nearby civilian communities.

Local officials in Szolnok said the aircraft was believed to have been conducting a routine training mission from a nearby military air base. Authorities confirmed that no one on the ground was injured and that no civilian infrastructure was damaged in the incident.

Hungary's Ministry of Defence has launched a technical investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Pending the outcome of the inquiry, Gripen training flights have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.

The Hungarian Air Force currently operates a fleet of 18 JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft. Four additional Gripens joined the fleet earlier this year as part of the country's ongoing air force modernization program.

The latest accident has renewed attention to flight safety within Hungary's military aviation, although officials stressed that the pilot's successful ejection and the aircraft's impact inside military property prevented a potentially more serious incident. (ILKHA)