F-22 fighter jet Makes Emergency Landing at Travis AFB

Travis became the recovery field

An Air Combat Command safety publication describes a contingency in which Travis Air Force Base was selected as the recovery location for a crippled F-22. The recovery plan involved coordinating airspace above Travis and using a KC-10 tanker and other F-22s to provide additional support.

“Through the crew resource management process, we selected Travis AFB, California as the best location to recover the crippled F-22.” — Air Combat Command safety publication

The situation involved more than one degraded aircraft

The same publication says another F-22 developed a generator problem and also needed to land. The formation was reorganized so that the degraded aircraft could recover while the remaining aircraft and tanker held overhead.

The landing plan was deliberately supported

The publication describes the first F-22 landing with a wingman providing support, followed by the wingman’s own recovery. During the sequence, additional cockpit indications appeared involving high temperature in the APU and AMAD area. These details show that the recovery was treated as a contingency operation rather than a routine arrival.

What the safety account does not establish

The available publication is a safety narrative rather than a conventional accident investigation. It documents the recovery and system problems but does not provide a final accident cause. No final cause has been assigned.

Timeline

Accident Facts

Sources

• Air Combat Command safety publication
• Original incident video