US F-22 crashes, pilot lands with one engine
The US F-22 stealth fighter suffered a failure in one of its two engines after takeoff, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.
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F-22 fighter jets of the 3rd Air Wing on a training flight. Photo:USAF. |
The US Air Force's 3rd Fighter Wing confirmed that an F-22 stealth fighter suffered a serious engine failure while operating over Florida last week. The pilot had to declare an emergency, but returned the plane safely.Drivereport
"The F-22, assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, crashed after taking off from Tyndall Air Force Base. An investigation is underway, but the cause of the engine failure has not been determined," said a spokesman for the 3rd Fighter Wing.
The extent of the damage caused by the incident is not yet known. However, each F119 engine of the F-22 fighter costs nearly $10 million. Repairs and replacements could cost a significant amount of money.
The incident occurred just days before the F-22 crashed on the runway last weekend.
Experts say that two consecutive engine failures of the same type of F-22 aircraft of the 3rd Air Force Wing stationed in Alaska show that the harsh climate here has a significant impact on the operational capability and combat readiness of one of the most modern US fighter jets.
The F-22 is America's fifth-generation stealth fighter, each costing about $250 million. Because of the high cost, the US only produced 183 aircraft, of which 125 are capable of regular combat./.
