Air Force training aircraft under scrutiny in Spain

QUESTIONS have been asked about the Chile-manufactured Tamiz aircraft used to trained Air Force pilots.

One of the planes crashed into the Mar Menor (Murcia) after taking off from the Air Force Academy in San Javier, killing Rosa Maria Almiron, a 20-year-old cadet, and Commander Daniel Melero.

They reported an engine failure during take-off manoeuvres before the plane crashed into the sea.

The Air Force currently uses 35 of the propeller-driven aircraft for pilot training but does not plan to replace the fleet until 2030, military sources revealed.

The same sources also admitted that the Tamiz accident has highlighted the possible need to renew its training aircraft.

Acting Defence Minister Margarita Robles announced that the same plane had carried out a problem-free training flight the previous day and on the morning of the accident.

It had also been serviced before going out again, Robles said.

This was the second crash with loss of life within four weeks after an Air Academy flight instructor died when his C-101 jet fighter crashed in the same area.