Mechanic ‘Accidentally’ Fires Vulcan Cannon & Obliterates F-16 Sitting on the Runway

War history online ^ | Mar 19, 2020 | George Winston

[Lazamataz]

The F-16, hit by the cannon fire, caught fire and exploded having recently been refuelled and made ready for a training sortie due to take place later that day. Another aircraft received minor damage.

If anyone ever needed a reminder of the lethal dangers of working with live munitions, then a recent incident at Florennes Air Base in Belgium is the ultimate wake-up call.

It is thought a maintenance worker accidentally activated the six-barrel 20mm Vulcan M61A-1 cannon hitting another plane parked on the runway.

No-one was in the line of fire, but two technicians were taken to the medical centre on the base suffering from noise related effects

[Lazamataz]

OOPS

[Uncle Miltie]

Laz, did you hit it?

[chrisser]

That’ll buff right out.

[Spruce]

“...suffering from noise related effects”

That must be one LOUD SOB!

[EQAndyBuzz]

I hate when that happens.

[PeterPrinciple]

but two technicians were taken to the medical centre on the base suffering from noise related effects

---

That will be helpful during the investigation?

[AndyJackson]

two technicians were taken to the medical centre on the base suffering from noise related effects

A master sargeant is being counseled for speaking in a REALLY LOUD VOICE, using inappropriate racist and sexist terms, and being generally insensitive to the delicate psyches of the staff who were just trying to do their jobs.

[Hot Tabasco]

Somebody is going to get a letter of reprimand placed in their personnel file....

[Lazamataz]

Yes, the Vulcan cannon is just a tiny bit noisy.

[IronJack]

What plane had the cannon? Another F16?

[Lazamataz]

Somebody is going to get a letter of reprimand placed in their personnel file....

"Your ****up is writing checks your ass can't cash!"

[xp38]

Used F-16 for sale. Will not fly. Parts only.

[Lazamataz]

What plane had the cannon? Another F16?

I think Vulcans are exclusively A-10 Warthog ordnance.

[TangledUpInBlue]

Funny. We need a like button. I was thinking “however the radio still works”......

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Don’t they have red flagged “safety pins” for this? We did 50 years ago.

In the olden days the one who caused this would have a part of his pay check deducted each pay period to pay for the aircraft.

[Larry Lucido]

“Live long and prosper” is not what they heard right afterward.

[TomServo]

Oops - someone is gonna have to go back to tech school for additional training.

[Lazamataz]

In the olden days the one who caused this would have a part of his pay check deducted each pay period to pay for the aircraft.

$18.8 million is a whole lot of pay deduction.

[Skooz]

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

That should come out of his paycheck.