Eurofighter jet drops fuel tanks during training flight
Published: 29 Mar, 2011 CET.
Updated: Tue 29 Mar 2011 11:42 CET
The Luftwaffe has admitted that a German Eurofighter jet accidentally lost two external tanks filled with fuel over the countryside near the Bavarian city of Augsburg during a training flight.
What caused the tanks to dislodge during a routine exercise was not immediately clear A Luftwaffe spokesman said that it is possible they were released by the aircraft accidentally at some point during the flight on Monday.
“The Eurofighter had already been in the air for some time,” he said when asked how much fuel was left in the tanks. The Bundeswehr is now investigating the incident.
The fighter jet's tanks, which can hold up to 1,000 litres of fuel each, were eventually found by members of the public in a forest and field some 19 kilometres from Augsburg.
The police, who were informed by the military immediately after the incident, then secured the surrounding area.
DPA/rm
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What caused the tanks to dislodge during a routine exercise was not immediately clear A Luftwaffe spokesman said that it is possible they were released by the aircraft accidentally at some point during the flight on Monday.
“The Eurofighter had already been in the air for some time,” he said when asked how much fuel was left in the tanks. The Bundeswehr is now investigating the incident.
The fighter jet's tanks, which can hold up to 1,000 litres of fuel each, were eventually found by members of the public in a forest and field some 19 kilometres from Augsburg.
The police, who were informed by the military immediately after the incident, then secured the surrounding area.
DPA/rm
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