Low-Flying Fighter Jet Burns 6 Spectators

A fighter plane flew too low at a military airport in central Sweden and burned six visitors on the ground, three of them seriously, an air force spokesman said.

The Swedish-built Viggen, or “Thunderbolt,” swept close to a group of seven visitors watching a jet exhibition at the airport near Uppsala, 40 miles north of Stockholm. All but one of the visitors were burned by the exhaust and some were thrown to the ground, officials said.

An air force spokesman said the group was about 50 yards from the runway. Radio reports said the plane flew only 10 yards above the visitors. He said it was not clear why the jet was so low.