Two U.S. Air Force F-15s were forced to make emergency landings at Kadena Air Base, Japan on Jan. 15. Both jets were forced to land on the same runway but from opposite directions, just five minutes apart.
The two jets had to rely on the BAK-12 arresting gear to stop. The first jet landed at 10:26 a.m. and was still on the runway with other emergency vehicles when the second F-15 came in from the opposite end at 10:31 a.m.
According to NOTAMS, runway 05L/23R is closed for repairs and the arresting gears on that runway were unserviceable.