A Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was involved in a flight accident in Rovaniemi on 7 May 2025. The aircraft crashed in the Rovaniemi airport area. The pilot ejected safely. Photo: Jouni Porsanger / Lehtikuva
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A Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet crashed on Wednesday morning near Rovaniemi Airport in Lapland.
The crash took place at approximately 10:50am within a military zone adjacent to the airport. According to the Finnish Defence Forces, the pilot ejected before impact and was recovered by rescue teams. He was taken for further medical examination.
There were no reported injuries on the ground.
Witnesses observed a dense column of black smoke rising from the crash site. Mika Lehtiniemi, who was driving nearby at the time, said the aircraft was flying at an unusually low altitude over a residential area.
“The plane rose sharply and flipped onto its back. A few seconds later I saw thick black smoke. I didn’t see flames, only a terrible amount of smoke,” Lehtiniemi said.
He said he was relieved to learn that the pilot had used the ejection seat.
Emergency services responded to what was described as a major air traffic incident. Several fire units and police teams were dispatched. Police closed access to the road leading to the airport and began securing the area. According to Jouni Koivunen, a police spokesperson, all nearby roads would likely be closed while operations continued.
The investigation will be led by the Finnish Air Force in cooperation with local police. Police will only launch their own criminal investigation if there is reason to suspect unlawful activity.
The cause of the crash has not been confirmed.
The accident occurred during a two-day meeting of Nordic defence ministers hosted by Antti Häkkänen, Finland’s Minister of Defence. The ministers had planned to observe training exercises by Finnish conscripts in the Rovaniemi area. The event was cancelled due to the crash.
The Finnish Air Force plans to hold a press briefing later on Wednesday. No additional information has been provided regarding the pilot’s condition.
The crash site lies within a restricted area where new infrastructure for F-35 aircraft is being developed. Media have been denied access to the scene.
According to Finavia, the incident has not disrupted civilian air traffic. Flights in and out of Rovaniemi Airport remain on schedule. The next arriving flight from Helsinki is due at 1:35pm, with a return flight at 2:15pm. Finavia said passengers would be informed of any future changes.
Smoke was visible from several parts of the city shortly after the crash. Journalists working in the Napapiiri area near the airport noted a strong smell of smoke around 11am. The smoke had begun to clear by 11:10am.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
