F-16 Accidentally Blown Up By Technician

A maintenance worker accidentally fired a 20mm Vulcan cannon from an F-16 jet at a Belgian air force base, destroying a nearby F-16 jet and damaging others, according to reports.

The technician at Florennes Air Basein southern Belgium accidentally fired the weapon while performing maintenance work on the plane, hitting an F16 parked on tarmac in front of a hangar, Avio News reported.

F-16 Accidentally Blown Up By Technician

...and you thought YOUR week was not going well!

No one was killed (two mechanics have some hearing loss) but there's a lot of toasted equipment on the airfield.

Some pretty spectacular photos

(collection of these stories)

Does that come out of his check or..

originally posted by: Sabrechucker
Does that come out of his check or..

Nope, that one comes out of ours.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Very True

a reply to: Byrd

I must admit I laughed when I read this in Dutch media.

"Did you touch the trigger?!"

"I was cleaning it... It was dusty!"

a reply to: theantediluvian

You Belgian or???

a reply to: Sabrechucker

Actually, yes, even though he or she could not quite cover the 22 million plus price tag. It's called a statement of charges. DD-Form 362 will be prepared if found responsible and each check will be a little lighter.

armymedical.tpub.com...

a reply to: DJMSN

Wow, It makes sense I suppose. That's one expensive error

They blew more than that at witch hunt supreme court hearings.

Really though why was maintenance being
Performed on an armed jet?

originally posted by: theantediluvian

originally posted by: Sabrechucker
Does that come out of his check or..

Nope, that one comes out of ours.

Good one!

originally posted by: Sabrechucker
Does that come out of his check or..

or does he run for senate

a reply to: VividestSum93

Because steps were skipped and people assumed things were done that weren't. That's pretty much how it always happens.

Always make sure that the weapon is empty before performing any maintenance.
That goes for any weapon.

isnt the first rule of F-16's always assume its loaded?

a reply to: Byrd

Whoops! Keep your stinkin' booger hook off the bang button.

when i read about jet accidents i always thing of this poor bastard.

pretty sure he walked away from it

What makes this worse is that he had to work to do it. There's a weight on wheels switch, there's supposed to be a mechanical lockout, and you're supposed to check the gun has been unloaded.

a reply to: Byrd

Glad no one was hurt, or at least badly.

Oops is the first word that comes to mind.