13.10.2026 10:10
At the National Day celebrations held in Spain's capital, Madrid, the display by Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to form the Spanish flag in the sky failed due to a technical glitch. When the colored smoke systems of some of the aircraft did not work properly, the flag consisting of red and yellow colors remained incomplete. The mishap at the ceremony, watched by thousands of people, became one of the most notable moments of the celebrations.
As part of Spain's National Day, celebrated every year on October 12, a large-scale military parade was held in the capital, Madrid. At the ceremony attended by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and the royal family, units belonging to the land and air forces paraded. One of the most striking parts of the celebrations was the flight carried out by fighter jets to form the Spanish flag in the sky.
Four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets belonging to the 14th Wing stationed at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete tried to draw the flag in the sky by leaving red and yellow colored smoke.
WHEN ONE AIRCRAFT DID NOT EMIT SMOKE, THE FLAG REMAINED INCOMPLETE
However, an unexpected technical glitch occurred during the display. According to reports in the Spanish press, the yellow smoke system of one of the aircraft did not work properly. It was stated that another aircraft also could not release its red smoke as planned.
Thus, the red-yellow-red Spanish flag that the aircraft were expected to draw in the sky could not be fully formed. The glitch during the display became one of the notable moments of the celebrations.
EUROFIGHTER AIRCRAFT TOOK ON THIS MISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME
This year's display also had a special significance. After the activities of the Patrulla Águila aerobatic team, which had previously undertaken the task of drawing the Spanish flag in the sky, ended in 2025, the task was given to Eurofighter fighter jets for the first time.
The four fighter jets took off to carry the colors of the Spanish flag into the sky thanks to special smoke systems. However, the first display could not produce the desired image due to the glitch in the smoke system.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WATCHED THE CEREMONY
In the military parade in Madrid, followed by thousands of people, fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, armored vehicles and military units took part.
The air display carried out as part of the National Day celebrations became one of the most notable parts of the ceremony despite the technical glitch.