NATO Aircraft collision in Lithuania!

[Gerald]

MONS, Belgium — At approximately 09:30, two NATO aircraft collided while conducting a training flight based out of the Zokniai Air Base located in northern Lithuania.

The incident occurred between a French Mirage fighter and a Lithuanian military jet L-39.

The lightly damaged Mirage fighter was able to land after the collision while the two Lithuanian pilots ejected successfully from their jet before it crashed. The two Lithuanian pilots walked away from the crash without serious injury and are currently under medical supervision.

The L-39 aircraft crashed in a rural area resulting in no further damage to any civilian property.

The incident is under national investigation.

The NATO air policing mission over the Baltic states continues.

http://www.shape.nato.int/nato-aircraft-collision-in-lithuania.aspx


Note: 30 August 2011

[Anthony W.]

Could've gone a lot worse.

Glad the pilots are okay and nobody was hurt on the ground.

Whats their definition of "lightly damaged"?

[Rilder]

Whats their definition of "lightly damaged"?

Wasn't there a story about a F-15 that got in mid-air collision that ripped a wing off yet it still managed to fly without issues and conduct a safe landing?

[razark]

Wasn't there a story about a F-15 that got in mid-air collision that ripped a wing off yet it still managed to fly without issues and conduct a safe landing?
It was an Israeli F-15, if I remember it correctly. I saw the video on youtube. The pilot was interviewed and said if he'd seen the damage in flight, he would have just ejected, because there's no way he could have been able to fly it home.

[Stealhead]

Yes it was according to this youtube clip which it seems was taken from a History channel show see the H in the corner. Personally I do not agree that this shows how tough the F-15 is rather that it was just a lucky situation.If anything it shows that the pilot was very good(though he even admits he would not have attempted landing had he known the damage)and it was just a very luck situation.If you look at the end the engines where at different states of thrust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edANk8Noii0&feature=related

Mid air collisions(unintended ones) between combat aircraft in training and in war zones is not that uncommon.

Here is what normally happens point of view from each of two F-15s notice the big X on the hud the pilots simply had no time to react.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Law2wcFkFsk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtZJDRyVKo0


Flying is very dangerous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJiCtjr8akk&feature=related

Bombs away?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsQcdTBwgKU&feature=related