Spanish air force explains 'close call' at air show, praises pilot

A Spanish air force pilot has been praised for his "exemplary speed and professionalism", after he performed a maneuver to avoid a flock of birds during the International Air Festival in Gijon.

Footage recorded by @spotting_daanii.pl shows an F-18 suddenly dropping altitude and coming close to the beach, before swooping back up.

The maneuver, which originally alarmed onlookers as potentially disastrous, was explained by Spain's Air and Space Force, who said that the action was "part of the standard protocol to protect both the pilot's safety and the public's safety."

"Our aviators are trained to react in milliseconds to any unforeseen event," they said. "In this case, the pilot acted with exemplary speed and professionalism, avoiding a possible impact without compromising the display."