Fighter Jet News

F-16 Fighting Falcon News

F-16C damaged during landing at NAS Fort Worth

June 9, 2005 (by Lieven Dewitte) - An F-16C suffered damage to its right main landing gear and 341 Bulkhead after landing at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas yesterday. The pilot was able to climb safely out of the stricken plane, an Air Force report said.

USAF 93rd FS Commanding Officer's F-16C block 30 #86323 wears the "FM" (Florida Makos) tailcode and the Mako shark logo. [Photo by Michael A. Infante]

The 19-year-old F-16C block 30 is assigned to the 93rd "Makos" Fighter Squadron at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. The jet was landing at Fort Worth as part of a cross-country trip from the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah to Homestead.

The pilot told officials that after landing and exiting the runway the jet settled on its right side.

Damage to the jet could exceed $1 million.

The Makos fly and maintain the F-16C aircraft and they can be identified by the letters "FM" ("Florida Makos") and the Mako Shark displayed on the tail.

The squadron, which belongs to the 482d Fighter Wing, participated in Operation Northern Watch for the past five years. In May 2000 they engaged in dissimilar-in-combat training skills with Navy F-14s and F-18s at the Oceania Naval Air Station, Virginia. In 2001, the 482d FW deployed to Laage Air Base, Germany, for Exercise Millennium Falcon, which provided dissimilar-in-combat training with German Mig-29s. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the 482d FW is active in Operation Noble Eagle and was a part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.