A Danish fighter jet that underwent repairs at the Tallinn airport after colliding with a bird in Estonian airspace on Monday returned to Denmark on Friday.
Damaged Danish fighter jet returns to Denmark after repairs
3rd May 2013, 18:09
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The Danish F-16 fighter took off from the airport of Tallinn on Friday morning, a spokesperson for the airport told BNS. Military spokespeople said the aircraft flew straight to Denmark.
Two Danish F-16 fighters deployed on NATO's Baltic air policing mission had to make an unscheduled landing in Tallinn on Monday after one of them collided with a bird during a training flight. The jets changed their flight plan immediately after the incident and landed in Tallinn. An examination of the aircraft revealed that the engine had sustained damage as a result of the impact.
On Tuesday the necessary spare parts as well as a repair crew were flown to Tallinn. The repair works were finished by Friday.
Chief of staff of the Estonian Air Force Lt. Col. Riivo Valge said cooperation of domestic institutions in resolving the incident went smoothly.
Denmark provided fighters for the Baltic air policing mission from January to the end of April. In May France took over the responsibility for patroling Baltic skies.