Few days in the past we reported concerning the 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 primary video surfaced on-line confirmed the fast aftermath of the ejection, with the smoke attributable to the ejection nonetheless seen.
Now, a brand new video leaked on-line exhibits safety digicam footage of the complete ejection sequence whereas the F-15 was taxiing on the finish of the runway. The parachute might be seen deploying as quickly because the seat is obvious of the plane and separates from the passenger, which then landed on the grass close to the taxiway.
The F-15D is roofed by the smoke generated by the ACES II ejection seat’s rocket motor, briefily stopping because the pilot realized what occurred. Because the smoke dissipates, the pilot resumes taxi and vacates the runway as emergency companies are being alerted.
The incident
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. In response to unconfirmed studies, the passenger was a recruiting Airman from the 104th FW.
Incentive flights are sometimes provided by the U.S. Air Power items to people, typically even civilians, who present distinctive efficiency of their duties. The flights are a reward to acknowledge the onerous work and dedication, however in addition they serve to encourage future Airmen about aviation and navy service.
The Warfare Zone revealed a press release from the unit, confirming the bottom mishap occurred at roughly 2:05 p.m. on August 12, 2025. The assertion confirmed that neither service member sustained any accidents on account of the incident, though the passenger was transported to an area hospital for analysis as precaution.
Initially there was confusion about when the incident occurred, with conflicting studies about it taking place earlier than takeoff or after touchdown. An audio recording of the radio communications with air site visitors management (ATC) additionally emerged on-line, hinting on the incident taking place after touchdown.
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. This was adopted by the ATC shutting down the runway 02/20 and directing the plane to vacate it and cease whereas coordinating with the emergency companies.
A Obligatory Prevalence Reporting (MOR) alert additionally surfaced on-line, additional confirming, as it could see within the video, that the F-15 landed on runway two and was exiting on the finish on taxiway Bravo.
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— John Ridge 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇹🇼 (@John_A_Ridge) August 13, 2025
A second incident
In our preliminary report, we talked about that the Air Power amn/nco/snco Fb web page posted one other video from Barnes ANGB, supposedly displaying the tire of an Eagle’s fundamental touchdown gear proper leg blowing after touchdown. The video was posted shortly after the video of the ejection, however it was unclear if each incidents occurred on the identical day.
It now seems to be the case, as radio communications emerged on-line additionally for this incident, which occurred on the finish of the identical runway simply few hours earlier. The F-15C, callsign “SLAM 02,” simply returned from a observe scramble as a part of a two-ship formation.
Earlier than the inadvertent ejection at Barnes, a observe air protection scramble happened and SLAM 02 (F-15C) blew a tire after touchdown and have become disabled on the taxiway close to the place the ejection happened a couple of hours later. Tuesday was not a simple day for the 104th FW upkeep… pic.twitter.com/wgYSf9vDUC
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 14, 2025
Unintentional ejections
Unintentional ejections are uncommon, however they do happen. A well-documented occasion is the unintentional 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’ll be able to learn in our earlier report right here.
Such uncommon incidents, nonetheless, can even occur throughout regular flights with skilled crew. As an illustration, we lately reported concerning the deadly floor ejection of a U.S. Air Power 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 attainable to grasp what occurred within the F-15D’s case. Nonetheless, an investigation will probably be launched and we are going to know extra at a later date.
