KC-46 and F-15E Damaged After Air Refueling Mishap | Aviation

The KC-46 was refueling F-15Es which were enforcing a Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction, with both aircraft involved in the mishap performing emergency landings.

A KC-46A Pegasus tanker has been involved in yet another refueling mishap, this time off the coast of California. The aircraft, callsign WIDE12, was refueling two F-15Es, callsigns NOBLE41 and NOBLE42, as they were enforcing a presidential Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on Aug. 21, 2024.

The KC-46s belongs to the 931st Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, the same unit of the tanker involved in the incident between a KC-46 and an F-16 off the coast of the Netherlands on Jul. 2. The F-15Es, which at the time of the incident were also reportedly carrying live weapons, are assigned to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and specifically to the 391st Fighter Squadron, according to local news outlets.

As NOBLE42 was refueling, an unknown problem caused damage to both the Strike Eagle and the tanker. NOBLE41’s crew communicated via radio to the air…