The German Air Force on Sept. 15 suspended indefinitely all flying operations with its Eurofighter jets because of technical problems with the plane's ejection seats, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.
The Financial Times Deutschland newspaper reported on Sept. 16 that this action was taken after the crash of a two-seat Eurofighter at the end of August in Spain. Experts suspect that a bird strike had destroyed important sensors.
While the Spanish pilot escaped successfully using the ejection seat, the parachute had become disconnected from the seat of the Saudi co-pilot, who died.
All 55 German planes are grounded until further notice. In the meantime, older F-4 Phantom fighter jets, which are being replaced by the Eurofighter, will again carry out the air policing of skies over southern Germany.
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