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Fuel Tank Falls Off F-16 Fighter Jet in Florida: A Close Call
Nothing says “check your work” quite like a fuel tank plummeting off a fighter jet. That’s exactly what happened when an F-16 Fighting Falcon from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida lost its fuel tank mid-flight over Niceville.
The tank fell into a residential neighborhood, landing just 600 meters from Edge Elementary School. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the tank caused no damage beyond leaving a dent in the grass. The incident happened around 11 a.m., and students weren’t in school at the time, as classes were set to resume the next day.
Military personnel quickly arrived on the scene, retrieved the debris, and launched an investigation. The 96th Test Wing, which oversees operations at Eglin, confirmed the event and shared that the tank dropped “within close proximity” to the base.
If this story feels like deja vu, you’re not wrong. In July, another F-16—this one from the Ohio National Guard—dropped its fuel tank during an emergency. That tank exploded in Michigan’s Lake Huron, while another piece damaged vehicles in a parking lot.
Imagine explaining to your insurance company that a fighter jet’s fuel tank fell in your yard. “Yes, hi, I’d like to file a claim… No, it wasn’t a tree, it was part of an F-16!
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