December 16, 2009 (by F. Dariz) -
An F-16 belonging to USAF 31st FW based at Aviano, Italy, made an emergency landing today at 12.30h at Rome's Fiumicino Airport due to a unknown technical problem.
USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0444 belonging to the 510th FS made an emergency landing at Rome's Fiumicino Airport due to an engine nozzle problem. [USAF photo]
Two F-16s which took off from the U.S. military base in Aviano for a surveillance operation, were flying over the Italian capital when one of the two jets (
#88-0444) suffered a major engine loss.
An immediate request for an emergency landing was sent to the control tower of Fiumicino
International airport near Rome.
Both planes landed at around 12.30h on runway 3 of the airport and are now parked at the Cargo City freight terminal awaiting a crew of US military technicians from Aviano to arrive with spare parts.
