Thu, 14 Nov, 2013 12:09:14 AM FTimes-STT Report, November 14  Hawk fighter training planes stand on tarmac Kauhava, Finland on November 13, 2013.Photo - Str / Lehtikuva. An air force captain was killed and another sustained injuries when two Hawk jets collided during a training exercise in the Salamajärvi area in Perho Wednesday afternoon.
The deceased was a 30 years old training instructor with 800 hours of flying experience with Hornet, air force sources said.
The pilot of other fighter, however, managed to eject successfully while a third fighter managed to keep a distance with the collision and landed safely, sources said.
The names of the pilots could not be immediately known.
A piece of the wrecked Hawk jet at Perho, Finland. Photo - Str / Lehtikuva. The accident took place at about 12:15pm after the three fighter planes started the two versus one training exercise from the Finnish Air Force Training Air Wing in Kauhava.
The exact reason behind the collision could not be known immediately. The air force authority at a press conference also said it was not clear, whether the dead pilot tried to eject or not. Investigation in this regard was on, the authority said.
However, the Investigation has been slowed down by the inconvenience of the accident location and lack of light, said Colonel Jukka Ahlberg at the press conference.
The surviving pilot, who walked to the ambulance, was taken to the Kokkola hospital, Jukka Ahlberg said, adding that he was out of danger.
Air Force Academy director, Colonel Jukka Ahlberg speaking at a press conference after the crash.Photo - Str / Lehtikuva. The authority also said the weather was excellent for training and the accident took place well above of the clouds.
The accident did not cause any human casualty or damage of property on the ground as the wreckages were found in the free area.
The wreckage of one fighter was found at Lestijärvi in Kauhava and the other at Salamajärvi in Perho.
Sources said both the planes had been damaged beyond repair.
Defence Minister Carl Haglund expressed profound shock at the death of the pilot and expressed condolence to the family members of the deceased.
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