American F-15 Eagles Dumps Fuel makes Emergency landing after Hydraulic Issue

F-15 Suffers Hydraulic Problem and Uses Arresting Cable for Emergency Landing

An F-15C over Fresno developed a hydraulic problem and remained airborne long enough to reduce its fuel load before attempting recovery. The pilot ultimately used the fighter's tailhook and the runway arresting system to stop safely.

On 26 February 2024, an F-15C operated by the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing declared an in-flight emergency in the Fresno area after a hydraulic problem developed.

The pilot did not immediately put the aircraft on the runway. Instead, the fighter remained airborne for about 20 minutes to burn fuel before the recovery attempt. The aircraft then approached the runway with the tailhook available as a backup stopping system.

The pilot caught the arresting cable and brought the aircraft to a stop. The jet was subsequently towed to a hangar for inspection.

The incident did not produce reported injuries. The available reporting establishes the hydraulic problem and the arresting-cable recovery, but it does not establish a final mechanical cause for the hydraulic malfunction.

The pilot did not immediately attempt a normal landing. The aircraft remained airborne for roughly another 20 minutes to reduce its fuel load. This gave the pilot more margin for the eventual recovery while avoiding an unnecessary high-energy landing.

Fresno's runway arresting system then became part of the recovery plan. The F-15 approached with its tailhook available and successfully engaged the arresting cable, bringing the fighter to a stop.

The sequence is significant because the arresting system was not being used after a landing accident; it was deliberately used as the stopping method for an aircraft whose hydraulic condition made the recovery abnormal.

“hydraulic issue”

Accident Facts

Sources

• Video source (ATC/audio reconstruction)
• KMPH/Fresno-area reporting on the 26 February 2024 F-15 emergency.
• Video/ATC recording