*NEWS RELEASE* - Colorado Air National Guard F-16 lands safely after in-flight emergency
July 23, 2010 -- NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO NATIONAL GUARD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 23, 2010
CONTACT:
Maj. Kristin Haley
Maj. Nicole David
(720) 847-6164
Colorado Air National Guard F-16 recovers jettisoned fuel tanks
Aircraft landed safely following in-flight emergency
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (7/23/10) - The missing fuel tanks that were jettisoned from a Colorado Air National Guard F-16C yesterday were recovered today.
The tanks were located in a ravine in Elbert County by personnel in a Colorado Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, and recovered by a recovery crew from Buckley Air Force Base.
The tanks are currently en route back to Buckley and will be examined as part of the investigation of the in-flight emergency.
A Colorado Air National Guard jet was on a regular training mission over eastern Colorado and western Kansas yesterday when the in-flight emergency occurred. The pilot was able to avoid populated areas before dropping the tanks in an unpopulated area of Elbert County.
Local officials were immediately notified and dispatched to search for the fuel tanks. Colorado Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawks and personnel from Buckley Air Force Base also conducted search operations.
The pilot and jet, from the 120th Fighter Squadron, landed safely at Peterson Air Force Base yesterday following the incident.
No humans or animals were injured, nor did any property damage occur from the event. The fuel tanks were 200 meters south of the nearest civilian structure, a ranch house.
The incident is under investigation.
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