The Dutch state broadcaster NOS has reported a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft literally ran into its own rounds in January during an exercise over Vlieland.
The incident happened on January 21, when two F-16 fighter jets took off and opened fire on targets at the test site on the Vliehors training ground on Vlieland.
No one was injured. The pilot has followed emergency procedures and the jet was safely land at Leeuwarden Air Base.
The pilot of one of the F-16 fighter jet aircraft had flown into his own stream of cannon rounds and later suffered considerable damage
At least one fired round caused damage to the exterior of the aircraft. Parts of the munition also ended up in the engine.
The Netherlands Defense Safety Inspection is looking into how one of the aircraft was able to shoot itself. The inspection would also like to find out if the aircraft crew or ground personnel was endangered during the exercise.
The investigation is now in full swing. Tests are being run and the inspection is in conversation with those involved. “This is a serious incident. We, therefore, want to fully investigate what happened and how we would be able to avoid this in future”, inspector-general Bagerbos said.
This is not the First incident when a Fighter jet ran into its own gunfire
On September 21st, 1956, a Grumman test pilot flying an F-11 Tiger Fighter jet That Shot Itself Down After pilot fired a long burst from its guns and moments later suffered mysterious, catastrophic damage that caved in the windshield and mortally wounded the engine.
