Onlookers capture moment fighter jet skims terrifyingly close to packed beach

Footage has captured the frightening moment a fighter jet skimmed terrifyingly close to a packed Spanish beach.

This is the terrifying moment a fighter jet skimmed frighteningly close to a packed Spanish beach.

Shocking footage shows a Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet roaring over San Lorenzo Beach, its nose diving towards the sea before pulling up just metres from sunbathers.

The combat aircraft, spewing puffs of black smoke, is seen flipping upside down in the sky before swooping so low it appears to almost graze the sand.

Holiday-makers lounging on the beach can be seen grabbing their phones to film the stunt, with several screaming in shock as the jet thundered overhead.

In another clip, groups of spectators watching from a nearby hill can be heard raising their voices in alarm as the jet tore through the air.

The hair-raising display took place during the nineteenth edition of the Gijón Air Festival, held on Sunday over San Lorenzo Bay in Asturias.

Around 250,000 people flock to the annual event, which is considered one of Spain’s biggest aeronautic spectacles.

After its perilous near-miss, the fighter jet continued its flight away from the crowded shoreline, leaving shaken tourists staring in disbelief.

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The plane skimmed terrifyingly close to the packed beach. Picture: X

The fighter jet was a Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet. Picture: X

But online, viewers were divided over whether the death-defying manoeuvre was intentional – or a risky slip-up.

“Very risky manoeuvre … is that allowed?” one user asked on TikTok.

Another on Reddit suggested: “For me it looked like he lost too much height during the roll and pulled up too hard, making him lose a lot of speed, unintentionally.

“Could be the perspective, too.”

Others, however, were left awe-struck.

One thrilled festival-goer declared: “I witnessed that live and it was one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time.”

Onlookers couldn’t believe their eyes. Picture: X

It comes as terrified beachgoers in Sardinia were forced to flee when a raging wildfire tore across the popular Punta Molentis coastline.

Holiday-makers dropped towels and sunbeds as smoke engulfed the golden sand, with flames creeping right up to the water’s edge in the blistering 34C heat.

More than 100 people had to be rescued by sea after escape routes were cut off, while firefighters battled the inferno with Canadair water bombers, helicopters and even an Italian Air Force aircraft.

Cars parked by the shore were left reduced to twisted metal after the blaze ripped through a beach parking area, torching around 200 vehicles and a kiosk.

Local media said a “jewel” of the Sarrabus coast had been destroyed, with footage showing families scrambling to safety as thick plumes of grey and black smoke filled the sky.

The Sardinia fire is the latest in a series of Mediterranean infernos, with Turkey enduring a deadly 50 degree celsius heatwave that has already claimed four lives and forced 3,500 people to evacuate.

Greece has also been ravaged, with wildfires sweeping villages near Athens and scorching parts of the Aegean Islands after a week-long heatwave pushed temperatures beyond 45 degrees celsius.

A blaze even tore through a northern suburb of Athens at the weekend, forcing panicked residents to flee their homes.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission