Mechanical Issues Cause Back-to-Back F-15 Emergency Landings in Kadena

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F-15C Eagles fly in formation over the East China Sea Dec. 11, 2018, during a routine training exercise out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Matthew Seefeldt)
F-15C Eagles fly in formation over the East China Sea Dec. 11, 2018, during a routine training exercise out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Matthew Seefeldt)

Two F-15 Eagles from Kadena Air Base, Japan, experienced mechanical issues and were forced to make emergency landing using arresting cables, the Air Force told Military.com Wednesday.

One of the F-15s had a problem with its landing gear and the other "experienced a hydraulic issue," said Air Force Capt. Victoria Hight, spokeswoman for Pacific Air Forces.

The jets were returning to Kadena when the incident occurred Tuesday, Hight said in an email.

"Both pilots followed proper procedures and landed the aircraft safely without incident," she said.

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Various media outlets noted that the jets landed on the same runway, but in the opposite direction of one another. The news was first reported by the Okinawa Times.

The separate incidents have not forced the base to order a stand-down of its fleet, Hight added. The base flies F-15C/D models.

"Our airmen are well-trained to execute their missions under any conditions, and they handled this particular incident in a professional, safe manner," the spokeswoman said.

In July, the base paused all F-15 flying operations after a pilot crashed off Okinawa during a routine training flight.

The lone pilot "successfully ejected" and was rescued by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214.

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