In a recent incident at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, a U.S. Air Force F-15D encountered an unexpected situation during landing. During the landing on May 15, the F-15D veered off the runway and came to a halt in the Bureau of Reclamation irrigation canal located on the south side of the runway.
Colonel Micah Lambert, the vice commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing, provided reassurance that the situation has been managed effectively, stating, “We don’t believe the aircraft is leaking any petroleum products based on our initial assessment of the water in the canal.” He emphasized that minimizing the environmental impact remains a top priority for the team. As a precautionary measure, absorbent booms have been placed around the aircraft to prevent the flow of fuel or other substances downstream in the event of a leakage.
To ensure the safety of the surroundings, ongoing water sampling is being conducted by the wing to detect any potential presence of petroleum products. So far, no evidence of contamination has been found, reinforcing the proactive measures taken by the team.
The single crew member, an F-15 instructor pilot, successfully exited the aircraft and was immediately transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center for evaluation. Thankfully, he has since been released with minor injuries. Colonel Lambert expressed gratitude, saying, “We are so grateful that our pilot was able to walk away from this mishap.” He commended the professionalism and rapid response of the Team Kingsley responders, underscoring their comprehensive training and safety mindset.
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Looks like aircraft will be stripped of spare parts and scrapped. It may have more than 8,000 flight hours and 30 years of use.