Air Force Base Worker Accidentally Fires F-16’s Cannons, Blows Up Other F-16

Air Force Base Worker Accidentally Fires F-16’s Cannons, Blows Up Other F-16

A Belgian Air Component F-16 fighter was destroyed and a second plane severely damaged after two maintainers accidentally triggered another jet’s Gatling gun. Two other Belgian Air Force personnel on the ground were treated for injuries.

The incident took place at Florennes Air Base in the afternoon of October 11. Two maintainers working on Belgian Air Force F-16AM fighter jet accidentally fired the plane’s M61 20-millimeter, six barreled Gatling gun. The 20-millimeter cannon rounds struck another F-16AM sitting nearby that was fueled up and prepared for flight. The resulting fire and explosion completely destroyed the fighter. A second fighter parked nearby suffered light damage.

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