KUALA LUMPUR: An aircraft participating in the multinational air combat exercise – Pitch Black 2024 – crashed in a remote area in Australia's Northern Territory, today.
Northern Territory police confirmed that the crash occurred some 18 kilometres southwest of the Daly River, according to state broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"The pilot was airlifted to hospital for precautionary checks but is otherwise safe and well," a police spokesman was quoted as saying.
An Australian Defence Force spokesman said the pilot was an international participant in Exercise Pitch Black and had ejected from the aircraft.
"Australian Defence Force personnel responded immediately and professionally at 10.45am to an aircraft emergency in the exercise area and coordinated recovery of the pilot with a search and rescue helicopter," the ADF said.
"The exercise participant made immediate contact with aircrew in the area via radio, following the ejection."
The pilot arrived at Royal Darwin Hospital after being airlifted at 1.30pm local time.
The ADF also said that all flying for the day had been cancelled.
It is believed that the aircraft involved was an Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon.
Pitch Black 2024 is a biennial exercise that covers a full spectrum of training, featuring various realistic and simulated threats, in a modern combat environment.
Flight operations are flown primarily from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases in Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley.
The exercise also sees the participation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which sent three F/A-18D Hornet strike fighters, and an Airbus A400M airlifter.
It also sees the participation of the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, Fiji, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei.