An F/A-18E Super Hornet and its pilot from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146, assigned to the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the Persian Gulf are safe after making a hard emergency landing at the Bahrain International Airport this weekend, according to the US Navy.
An engine failure forced the pilot to divert to Sheik Isa Air Base, Bahrain, but it quickly became apparent he would not make it that far.
“Unable to make it to Isa, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at Bahrain International Airport. Due to the malfunction, the aircraft could not be stopped on the runway and the pilot ejected from the aircraft as it departed the runway,” said Cmdr. Bill Urban, USN 5th Fleet.
The Navy described it as an “uncontrollable” landing.
“The pilot is uninjured and the incident is under investigation,” he added. “The Navy is supporting efforts to re-open the runway so the airport may resume normal operations.”
Website “The Aviationist” produced a great report on the history of these birds crashing and the alarming rate those crashes seem to be increasing as they age.
You can read it HERE.
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