Overview

• On July 27 at the nineteenth Gijón Air Festival, a Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet performed an ultra-low inverted roll over San Lorenzo Beach, prompting screams and viral videos.
• The jet emitted black smoke during the stunt but flew away safely, and no injuries were reported among the festival’s roughly 250,000 spectators.
• Viewers are split on whether the maneuver was a deliberate showcase of pilot skill or an accidental near miss caused by loss of control.
• Experts have pointed to the smoke plumes as a sign of possible mechanical strain during low-altitude maneuvers.
• Some now speculate that a bird strike, supported by footage of debris resembling feathers, may have triggered the abrupt pull-up.