F-16 crash/accident at Sigonella

[Niek]

27 Apr. 2011
F-16 aircraft incident upon landing at Sigonella

SIGONELLA, Sicily - An F-16 aircraft participating in the NATO-led Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR was involved in an incident upon landing on the outbound runway of Naval Air Station Sigonella at approximately 11:35am. The pilot ejected safely and his condition is currently being assessed. Italian base police have cordoned off the area.

The Italian Carabinieri will open an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Additional details will be provided when available.

In line with NATO policy the nationality of the aircraft will not be released.

Source: NATO

[Frank]

Hi Niek

It was an UAE F-16 which took of from Deci this morning. The UAE is redeploying their birds from Deci to Sigonella and this happened at their first landing in Sicily. They should have stayed

[Frank]

More here BTW: http://www.cronacalive.it/incidente-a-s ... erito.html

Italian, but readable with Google Translate. The video is not really relevant..

[Roel van Gestel]

De vrije vertaling, het lijkt wel Zuid-Afrikaans! Vooral fijn dat de piloot net op tijd wist in te schepen:

"Sigonella / incident aan de militaire basis bij Sigonella. Een F16 Emiraten afging. Er waren gewond. Het nieuws is nog steeds fragmentarisch: BEKIJK DE VIDEO
Het ongeval plaatsvindt op de dag na het besluit van Italië om deel te nemen de bombardementen en net toen we bereiden ons voor op een nieuwe, extra, het mobiliseren van militaire bases, vooral in Sicilië.
De basis van Sigonella heeft een belangrijke rol in de aanval op Libië. De andere Siciliaanse basis waar er een grote activiteit met 37 Squadron van Trapani.
De F16 kwam van de voet van Decimomannu, op Sardinië, waar vliegtuigen zijn in de Emiraten heringedeeld met de Spaanse en Nederlandse. Sigonella luchthaven werd tijdelijk gesloten en doorgeschakeld verkeer naar die Trapani Birgi.
Het ongeluk gebeurde bij de landing. Volgens de voorlopige rapporten zou de vechter hebben de grond raakte en kort na de crash. De piloot maakte net op tijd om in te schepen met de bijgeleverde schietstoel, dan de landing met een parachute."

[Stefan]

And a Google translation into English (which is the language chosen for this part of the forum)

Sigonella incident to Emirates for F16: no injuries
Sigonella / incident to the military base at Sigonella. A f16 Emirates went off. There were wounded.
The accident takes place the day after Italy's decision to take part in the bombing and just when we are preparing for a new, additional, mobilizing military bases, especially in Sicily.
The other Sicilian base where there is great activity by 37 Squadron from Trapani.
The F16 fighter came from the base of Decimomannu, in Sardinia, where planes are redeployed in the Emirates with the Spanish and Dutch. Sigonella Airport was temporarily closed and traffic diverted to operating Trapani Birgi.
The accident occurred on landing. According to preliminary reports, the fighter would have touched the ground and shortly after the crash. The pilot made just in time to embark with the ejection seat supplied, then landing with a parachute.

All video-related replies have been moved.

Regards,
Stefan

[MasterJet]

http://www.wam.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=W ... 5099399983

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[spirocheta]

at 18.30 aprox 2 f-16 of uae come back to decimomannu
bye

[MasterJet]

Let's hope all the UAE jets will come back to' Deci

Maybe I am dreaming but this is a positive news for the spotters

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[r.e.hendriks]

Looks pretty bad, if you ask me....

http://forsvaret.dk/FTK/Nyt%20og%20Pres ... idrag.aspx

I wonder whether it will be repaired....

Best regards Rob.

[MasterJet]

Looks pretty bad, if you ask me....

http://forsvaret.dk/FTK/Nyt%20og%20Pres ... idrag.aspx

I wonder whether it will be repaired....

Best regards Rob.

Thanks for the link Rob!

[evhest]

Pretty bad? That looks repairable to me. We've seen worse.

[SquAdmin]

Considering the fact that the pilot ejected the cockpit is probably a mess as well. I wonder what caused the slid, pilot error or tech failure...?

[grim83]

Anyone any info on the whereabouts of the UAE Vipers? Have they all been redeployed to Sigonella, or are thet still operating out of Deci???

Many thanks,

Daniël

[r.e.hendriks]

Any one more info on the serial of the crashed UAE fighter?

Maybe one of our Italian friends

[MasterJet]

Any one more info on the serial of the crashed UAE fighter?

Maybe one of our Italian friends

At the moment no...I am waiting to see more pics of the crash! Always if it will be released...

Cheers

Gio