The skill of the Spanish pilot of an EF-18M fighter jet in front of a flock of birds in Gijón

Last weekend, the Spanish city of Gijón, in Asturias, hosted the 19th edition of its popular air festival.

The QRA service of the Spanish Air Force, the system that protects Spain's airspace
The pre-flight check and cockpit of a Spanish EF-18BM fighter explained by its pilot

Unlike other years, this edition has generated a lot of news in Spanish and foreign media due to what happened to an EF-18M fighter of the 12th Wing of the Air Force, specifically the C.15-60 (12-18), an aircraft that we already saw here in 2019 in an exhibition at the Šiauliai Air Base, in Lithuania, which was highly applauded by the public.

The Spanish Air Force published this video today from @spotting_daanii.pl showing what happened. As the aircraft flew very close to Muro de San Lorenzo Beach, the EF-18M "performed an evasive maneuver after detecting a flock of birds in its path. This action is part of the usual protocol to preserve both the integrity of the pilot and the safety of the public," says the Spanish Air Force.

Muchos nos habéis estado preguntando, por eso, en este hilo, os contamos qué pasó durante el festival aéreo de Gijón.

Hilo 🧵 pic.twitter.com/oyY2ZNESEA

— Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (@EjercitoAire) July 28, 2025

In the images, we see that the plane made a sharp right turn to avoid the flock of birds, recovering in time and then turning left to avoid the beach. This prevented a possible break in the cockpit canopy or one of the birds from entering an engine, which could have had adverse consequences.

The Spanish Air Force adds: "Our aviators are trained to react in milliseconds to any unforeseen event. In this case, the pilot acted with exemplary speed and professionalism, avoiding a possible impact without compromising the display. Safety is, and will continue to be, our top priority at every air demonstration. Thank you to all attendees for their enthusiasm and trust." In this other video by David Lázaro you can see the skillful evasive maneuver performed by the EF-18M:

In response to some comments being made on social media, it must be clarified that this maneuver was not due to recklessness or pilot error. The acrobatics that fighter jets perform during air shows are planned in great detail, and there is no room for improvisation or the pilot's whims. What we see in these images is the performance of a highly professional in the face of an unforeseen circumstance, in which this Spanish pilot demonstrated his experience and great skill. My congratulations to this pilot. As a Spaniard, I am proud to have such well-trained personnel in the Spanish Air Force.

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Main photo: Aviacijos Bazė. The EF-18M C.15-60 (12-18) during a display in 2019 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania.