2014 Olsberg mid-air collision


On 23 June 2014, a German Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet and a Learjet 35 business jet participating in a military exercise collided mid-air over Olsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The Learjet subsequently crashed to the ground with the loss of both crew members on board. The Typhoon was damaged but managed to land safely.

Collision

The accident happened at 14:38 CEST. Two Eurofighter Typhoons were on exercise with the Learjet in the Elpe-Olsberg area. The Learjet was simulating a civil airliner that had been hijacked and had broken off radio contact with Air Traffic Control, while the Typhoons were simulating a military response to such a scenario. The lead Typhoon intercepted the Learjet, and as the latter turned to follow it, the two aircraft collided.
The Learjet crashed about from houses in Olsberg, killing both crew members. The Typhoon aircraft was severely damaged, but was able to land safely at Nörvenich Air Base, near Cologne. The second Typhoon landed at Cologne Bonn Airport.

Aircraft

The first aircraft was a Eurofighter Typhoon, msn GS0070. The aircraft was built in 2012. It was operated by Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 "Boelcke", Luftwaffe. It was based at Nörvenich Air Base.
The second aircraft was a Learjet 35A, registered D-CGFI, msn 35A-612, which had first flown in 1986. It was operated by the, a subsidiary company of Airbus Defence and Space, and was based at Hohn Air Base.

Investigations

Investigations into the accident were carried out by the General Flugsicherheit der Bundeswehr and the Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the Learjet were recovered on the day of the accident, from a site from the crash site of the aircraft. The data from these devices were published in the BFU's interim report in September. The BFU's final report into the accident was published in August 2015.
The pilots of the two Eurofighter Typhoons were being investigated by the public prosecutor's office on suspicion of causing death by negligence and might face charges of manslaughter. A commander at the Tactical Air Force squadron reported that both of the jet pilots were very experienced and had frequently been involved in such exercises.