Cannon F-16 pilot jettisons fuel tanks to save plane

[djnocturnal]

1/26/2007

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AP) - An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Cannon Air Force Base was forced to jettison its external tanks after takeoff Saturday.

Base spokesman Senior Airman Thomas Trower says the pilot abandoned the tanks after the 35-million-dollar aircraft experienced a serious system malfunction. The pilot managed to maintain control of the aircraft and safely land back at the base.

Trower says the tanks held 740 gallons of fuel. They were destroyed when they landed in an open field on private property about two miles northwest of the base.

Cannon first responders secured the site of the jettisoned tanks within minutes and were able to contain the spilled fuel to minimize any environmental affects.

Trower says Cannon is investigating what caused the aircraft's malfunction.