A video posted on 13/8 by the X account Air Force Amn/Nco/Snco, which specializes in US Air Force material, shows smoke rising from the rear cockpit of an F-15D fighter jet taxiing at Westfield base in Massachusetts. The canopy was seen lying on the left wing of the aircraft, and the back-seater appeared to be getting up after being ejected.
"The ejection seat activated on the taxiway before takeoff. The incident occurred during an incentive flight, and the back-seater appears to be a recruiting officer from the 104th Fighter Wing," the account stated.
An "incentive flight" is one of the ways the US Air Force recognizes military personnel with outstanding achievements. The recipient sits in the back seat of a fighter jet or the cargo hold of a transport aircraft to experience flying like a pilot.
The cause of the F-15D's rear ejection seat activation remains unclear. The 104th Fighter Wing has not commented on the incident.
Similar incidents have occurred with US fighter jets and those of other countries in the past. In 3/2019, a passenger in the back seat of a French Air Force Rafale B fighter jet accidentally pulled the ejection handle after takeoff, causing him to be ejected. A technical malfunction prevented the front seat's ejection system from activating, allowing the pilot to land the Rafale safely.
4th-generation fighter jets like the F-15 are equipped with zero-zero ejection seats, which can be activated and save the pilot's life even when the aircraft is stationary on the ground. These seats are safer than previous generations, which required a certain speed and altitude to activate, but there are still some risks associated with ejecting from an aircraft on the ground.
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F-15D fighter jet at a base in Westfield, Massachusetts, USA in 11/2024. Photo: *USAF* |
The F-15 is a heavy fighter jet that entered service with the US Air Force in 1976. It is one of the US's primary fighter aircraft, optimized for air superiority missions. The F-15D is a two-seat variant that can be used for both combat and training.
The 104th Fighter Wing, part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is responsible for training pilots and technical personnel. They participate in protecting the northeastern US airspace, support operations requested by Massachusetts officials, and deploy overseas at the direction of the US Air Force.
Nguyen Tien (*War Zone, AFP, AP*)
