An F-18 fighter jet crashed in a huge fire at this terrifying moment, striking a Spanish military facility.
Video published on social media on Saturday showed the warplane already on fire as it plummeted towards the Zaragoza airfield.
Before the accident, the pilot was successful in getting off the plane. He may have been practising for an aerial display.
But after landing and suffering from leg injuries, he was transported by helicopter to the hospital.
The base, which lies about 10 miles outside the city, belongs to the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Police said they would collaborate with the military in investigating the crash.
The Guardia Civil said that the initial information provided by the pilot was that the plane had apparently suffered a malfunction.
US-made F-18 Hornets have formed part of their air defence since the 1980s and have been purchased by the air forces of several allied countries.
Spain’s air force acquired its first 72 models of F-18 manufactured by McDonnell Douglas in 1983.
The fighters, known for their versatility, entered service three years later. Spain’s air force later purchased an unspecified number of additional F-18s.
The Zaragoza base is home to a unit of Spain’s F-18s.