BUDAPEST, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has suspended training flights of its Gripen fighter jets after one of the aircraft crashed near the central city of Szolnok on Monday, Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said.
The pilot sustained an injury but was in good condition and was transferred to the Military Hospital in Budapest for further examination. No civilians were injured or killed.
According to military officials, the Gripen was one of two aircraft conducting a routine air combat training exercise on Monday as part of Hungary's air defense readiness duties when it reported a malfunction.
The exercise was aborted, but the affected aircraft was unable to return to its home base in Kecskemet and diverted to the Szolnok airbase, accompanied by the second Gripen.
Ruszin-Szendi said the fighter was carrying air-to-air missiles and cannon ammunition, and praised the pilot for avoiding populated areas.
Training flights have been suspended pending the investigation, while aircraft assigned to operational air defense readiness will continue their duties.
The aircraft's flight recorder will be examined, and the cause of the malfunction remains unknown.
Hungary operated a fleet of 18 Gripen fighter aircraft before Monday's crash. ■