Two Swiss F-5E Tiger fighter jets from the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic display team have collided near a northern Dutch air base (Leeuwarden), with one crashing in a pond (J-3086) and the other landing safely with a damaged tail (J-3088), the Swiss defence ministry has confirmed.

The pilot of the plane that crashed ejected before impact and landed in a greenhouse, said Air Force Commander Aldo Schellenberg at a media conference on Thursday. He was not badly hurt but had a few cuts and bruises.

It was the first serious incident in Patrouille Suisse’s 52-year history and that an inquiry had been launched by the Swiss military.