The Swiss F-5 aircraft crashed near the Leeuwarden Dutch air base in the north of the country during an aerobatic routine.

Photos posted on Twitter appeared to show a section missing from the horizontal stabiliser at the back of the plane, but the cause of the crash has not been confirmed.

Leeuwarder Courant•GETTYThe Swiss F-5 crash

The jet was flying in a close V-formation shortly before the incident, leading to speculation that the damage could have been inflicted by a collision with another of the high-speed jets.

Rob Venmans, whose Twitter bio says he is a senior advisor on fire and security at the Dutch Military Aviation Authority, said the plane with the damaged tail had managed to land safely. 

GETTYF5 Tiger fighter jets of the Swiss Air Force fly in formation over the Eiger mountain

The pilot was unhurt after ejecting from the jet, which had been performing as part of an aerobatics team similar to the British Red Arrows.

The Patrouille Suisse is an aerobatic team piloted by the Swiss Air Force. The team flies six Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter jets.

The incident will refresh memories of the horror Shoreham air show crash last year when 11 people died after a vintage Hawker Hunter plane plummeted to the ground.