“F-16 fighter jet EXPLODES and another is damaged in Belgium after mechanic fires Gatling cannon”

[ElPaso Pilot]

When your mechanic BRRRRRRTS his own airport’s flight line...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...elgium-mechanic-accidentally-opened-fire.html

 

[Velocity173]

So much for self sealing fuel tanks.

 

[DaleB]

The exploded war plane, which is capable of travelling at supersonic speeds, was said to have been filled with around 10,000 litres of highly explosive kerosene fuel.

Sigh.

 

[Sac Arrow]

Sigh.

Something tells me that an exploded war plane is not capable of traveling at supersonic speeds. At least, not on its own.

 

[ElPaso Pilot]

Gotta love tabloid coverage of aviation.

 

[Spring Ford]

Gotta love tabloid coverage of aviation.

The Daily Mail is famous for the precision of its reporting

It does seem to be a real event though.

 

[Zeldman]

Multi-million pound stealth jet was destroyed after bursting into flames at base

Well, at least they didn't call it a Cessna.....

 

[weilke]

With friend like this, who needs enemies ?*





* to be spoken in fake russian accent

 

[ElPaso Pilot]

Great comment in one of the news articles:

Does the technician get to affix a little sticker of a fighter jet to the outside of his toolbox now?​

 

[ElPaso Pilot]

And another media mockup:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/f-16-jet-utterly-destroyed-13406979

 

[weilke]

Auto-cannon maintenance manual:
Step 1: unload weapon
.
.
.

 

[Craig]

Something tells me that an exploded war plane is not capable of traveling at supersonic speeds. At least, not on its own.

Sure they are, but unfortunately, not as an assembled and functioning aircraft and in a single direction....

 

[pmanton]

There's a mechanic looking for a new job methinks

 

[SkyDog58]

There's a mechanic looking for a new job methinks

After he finishes doing his time.

 

[jkaduk]

I heard stories in the AF about the F4. In one case it was a C model which doesn't have a built in gun but can carry a centerline gun pod. Pull the trigger with the gun unsafe on the ground and you blow off the nose gear. Also heard about a maintenance van and it's occupants getting hosed in a similar situation. Could have been the same event or it could have just been a story.

 

[SkyDog58]

I would have thought that the armament specialist would disarm weapons before the every day general mechanic got near the aircraft.