Reports have revealed that an F-16 pilot was in a pretty bad situation while flying through ISIS territory last year. A fuel malfunction in his jet could have forced him to eject, which would have him land in an area occupied by the enemy that would have led to the pilot's capture or death.
However, thanks to quick thinking from the crew of an Air Force tanker, the F-16 pilot's life was saved.
The Air Force said that the KC-135 Stratotanker was with a group of A-10 Thunderbolt II jets while on an air mission for a coalition helmed by the United States. The F-16 then approached the tanker to attempt to refuel.
However, after linking up with the tanker, the F-16 was disconnected after receiving only 500 pounds worth of fuel. The amount falls very short from the 2,500 pounds that the pilot needed to be able to fly out of enemy territory.
The second attempt to refuel the F-16 also failed, and after the pilot reviewed a checklist to see what the potential problem was, he discovered that a fuel system emergency was involved in his jet.
According to the Air Force, more than 80 percent of the F-16's fuel capacity was unusable and trapped, which meant that the jet could only use fuel that would allow it to fly for 15 minutes at a time. The emergency often necessitated for the pilot of the affected jet to eject.
However, the option was an entirely dangerous one that could cost the pilot's life, as he was above ISIS territory at the time. The crew of the tanker, however, stepped in to save the day.
Instead of leaving the troubled F-16 pilot behind, the tanker decided to remain by the jet's side to refuel it every 15 minutes until both aircraft were able to escape dangerous territory and land on safe ground.
"Knowing the risks to their own safety, they put the life of the F-16 pilot first and made what could've been an international tragedy a feel-good news story," said U.S. Air Force Air Refueling Squadron commander Lt. Col. Eric Hallberg.
The Air Force, however, did not reveal the location where the events transpired, or the nationality of the F-16 pilot.
