A KC-46A Pegasus experienced an emergency on July 8th while refueling F-22 fighter jets off the US east coast. "The crew made the decision to divert to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina and landed safely. The aircraft will remain there for a period of time," said John Van Winkle, spokesperson for the 22nd Air Refueling Wing.
US media previously released a recording of radio communications between the KC-46A and air traffic control. In it, the crew reported that the tanker's refueling boom had "departed" the aircraft, and they were executing emergency procedures.
According to civilian flight tracking data, the KC-46A took off from Kansas and descended below 3,000 meters after the incident. It circled Langley-Eustis Joint Base in Virginia several times before heading to North Carolina.
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A KC-46 refueling an F-22 fighter jet. Photo: Boeing |
A KC-46 refueling an F-22 fighter jet. Photo: Boeing
Van Winkle confirmed that the KC-46A's refueling boom was damaged, adding that the US Air Force is investigating the incident and assessing the damage. It is unclear whether the F-22 sustained any damage.
In 2001, the US launched the KC-46A Pegasus program, based on the Boeing 767 airliner, to replace the KC-135, which entered service in the late 1950s. The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns.
The Pegasus program is valued at approximately 7.5 billion USD. The US Air Force has ordered 179 aircraft at an average cost of 160 million USD each. Several serious issues with the KC-46A remain unresolved, despite the US military accepting the first aircraft in 1/2019.
In its 2024 force structure assessment, the Pentagon's review board stated that the KC-46A does not meet several operational requirements, and maintenance is often prolonged due to parts supply issues. A faulty pump delayed the first delivery of 2024 by two months.
In March, the US Air Force announced that Boeing had discovered cracks in the fuselage and load-bearing structure of two newly manufactured KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. Deliveries were halted until the cause could be determined and a solution implemented.
Pham Giang (Air & Space Forces, War Zone)
