An uncommon incident at Barnes Air Nationwide Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts, noticed the backseat passenger of an F-15D Eagle ejecting from the plane whereas on the bottom. The plane, assigned to the Massachusetts Air Nationwide Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing, was reportedly concerned in an incentive flight earlier this week, with the ejection taking place after touchdown.
The incident
A video surfaced on-line reveals the quick aftermath of the ejection, with the smoke attributable to the ejection nonetheless seen. The passenger could be seen crawling on the bottom close to the runway, simply beside the parachute, whereas the cover, jettisoned through the ejection, is mendacity on the Eagle’s left wing because the plane strikes to vacate the runway.
An audio recording of the radio communications with air site visitors management (ATC) additionally emerged on-line. The pilot of the F-15, which flew with the callsign “RAMBO 01,” reported the ejection of the backseater after which declared a floor emergency, with the ATC shutting down the runway and directing the plane to vacate the runway and cease whereas coordinating with the emergency providers.
Video and ATC from yesterday. The backseater of RAMBO 01 (F-15D 104th FW Massachusetts ANG) unintentionally ejected whereas taxiing again after a alleged incentive flight at Westfield-Barnes Airport, MA
The backseater survived and the runway was shut down. You’ll be able to see the cockpit… pic.twitter.com/9ZIAV9ENPl
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 14, 2025
The Air Drive amn/nco/snco Fb web page posted the video stating “Incentive flight ejected on the flight line earlier than even taking off, member was apparently a recruiting officer from the 104FW at Barnes ANGB.” We can’t confirm the id of the passenger presently, though the caption has already been confirmed as partly incorrect as radio communications seem to substantiate it occurred after touchdown.
Incentive flights are sometimes supplied by the U.S. Air Drive items to people, generally even civilians, who present distinctive efficiency of their duties. The flights are a reward to acknowledge the onerous work and dedication, however additionally they serve to encourage future Airmen about aviation and army service.
The 104th FW has not launched a press release concerning the incident and the circumstances during which it occurred. The standing of the passenger is unclear, though it seems he survived the ejection.
Unintentional ejections
Unintentional ejections are uncommon, however they do happen. A well-documented occasion is the unintended ejection of the passenger of a French Rafale throughout an incentive flight in 2019. The in-flight incident was attributed to each human and technical failures, as you may learn in our earlier report right here.
Such uncommon incidents, nonetheless, may occur throughout regular flights with skilled crew. For example, we not too long ago reported concerning the deadly floor ejection of a U.S. Air Drive T-6A Texan II’s teacher in 2024, attributable to the beforehand disconnected harness chest strap catching on and inadvertently actuating the seat’s deal with whereas the plane was nonetheless taxiing after touchdown.
Whereas there are some similarities, it’s not doable to know what occurred within the F-15D’s case. Nonetheless, an investigation shall be launched and we are going to know extra at a later date.
A second incident
The Air Drive amn/nco/snco Fb web page additionally posted one other video from Barnes ANGB, supposedly displaying the tire of an Eagle’s important touchdown gear proper leg blowing after touchdown. The video was posted shortly after the video of the ejection, however it’s unclear if each incidents occurred on the identical day.
