F-16 fighter jet drops its fuel tanks over Ohio, forces commercial flight to divert

Airmen work on an F-16 Fighting Falcon on the flightline June 14, 2017 at the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton, Ohio. Routine maintenance ensures aircraft are combat ready for any situation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Hope Geiger)

Cliff Pinckard
cleveland.com
(TNS)

TOLEDO, Ohio — An F-16 fighter jet with the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing dropped its fuel tanks Sunday while flying over western Ohio because of an in-flight emergency, reports say.

WTVG Channel 13 reports the F-16 was on its way to Toledo Express Airport, where the 180th Fighter Wing is based, when it dropped its two fuel tanks while flying over Hardin County. The incident forced an Allegiant Airlines flight to be diverted to Fort Wayne, Indiana, WTVG reports.

The National Guard says the F-16 was on a routine training mission at about 10:20 a.m. when the emergency occurred, WTOL Channel 11 reports. The jet eventually landed safely in Toledo.

Reports say the two fuel tanks were recovered about 50 miles south of the airport. WTVG reports the Allegiant flight landed in Toledo about two hours after the incident occurred.

The cause of the F-16′s emergency is under investigation, reports say.

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