F-15 jet makes emergency landing at Fresno base

An F-15 fighter jet made an emergency landing Friday morning at the 144th Fighter Wing’s Air National Guard base in Fresno.

The jet’s landing gear malfunctioned after taking off during routine flight training, said Col. Clay Garrison, the 144th’s commander.

The F-15’s wheels didn’t retract after takeoff, so as a precaution, arresting gear — a cable strung across the runway that jets can hook onto — was used to help the plane land.

The cable brought the jet, worth $30 million, to a halt within 1,200 feet as it traveled along the runway at about 140 miles per hour, Garrison said.

The pilot landed almost immediately after takeoff and wasn’t injured.

The jet — one of 21 at the base — is being assessed to determine what caused the malfunction, Garrison said.

Using a catch cable at the base isn’t unheard of, but it’s not routine: In the past 15 months, the 144th used the cable three times, Garrison said. None were serious incidents.

Source:  http://www.fresnobee.com