F-15 fighter jet forced to make emergency landing after it started leaking fuel in California

A National Guard F-15C Eagle Fighter jet had to make an emergency landing in California after it was dumping fuel. 

The jet, a part of the 144th Fighter Wing, made the landing on Thursday at Fresno Yosemite International Airport during a morning training session. 

Fuel was venting from both wings, but it was said to not have been hazardous to the nearby population.   

‘Most of the fuel should have dissipated before it reached the ground,’ Master Sergeant Charles Vaughn said. 

In Air Traffic Control audio, the pilot of the jet can be heard saying: ‘I’m dumping fuel out of both my wings…Uncontrolled fuel leak.’ 

A National Guard F-15C Eagle Fighter jet had to make an emergency landing in California after it was ‘uncontrollably’ dumping fuel

The jet could be seen dumping fuel from each wing on its descent 

The aircraft landed safely on the runway as another F-15 flew directly above it to monitor its descent. 

The pilot asked for cable chains to be laid across the runway to help it stop, according to Fox 26. 

Emergency services quickly cleaned up the fuel on the runway after landing. 

The 144th Fighter Wing is investigating the incident and it is unclear what caused the fuel to begin leaking. 

F-15’s enter service in 1985 and the military is looking to start phasing them out. 

Congressman Jim Costa recently sent a letter requesting funding to bring new F-35A aircrafts to the base, as he believes the jets will be obsolete by 2028.   

Emergency crews met the pilot on the runway and immediately began cleaning up the fuel on the runway