An Israeli F-15 was nearly forced to land during Iran operation due to a fuel malfunction, a report says.
An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet narrowly avoided an emergency landing deep inside Iranian territory during last month’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran, according to a report by Channel 12 on Saturday—the first time such an incident has been publicly revealed.
The report states that the jet experienced a malfunction in its fuel tank system while already operating within Iranian airspace.
The pilot quickly identified the issue and notified command in real time. Because the strike package did not include aerial refueling support, Israeli forces had to improvise a mid-mission plan to dispatch a tanker aircraft to assist the jet.
At the same time, a contingency plan was drawn up in case the tanker couldn’t reach the F-15 in time. In that scenario, the jet would divert and land in a neighboring country, avoiding the significant risk of a crash or capture inside Iran.
The report did not specify which country had been selected for the emergency diversion, but emphasized the sensitivity and risk surrounding such an operation.
Ultimately, the refueling aircraft reached the F-15 in time, allowing the jet to continue its mission without incident or diversion.
Channel 12 also noted that before Israel’s surprise strike on Iran on June 13, which marked the beginning of the 12-day conflict, Israeli Air Force commander Tomer Bar reportedly warned in internal assessments that up to 10 Israeli aircraft could be lost in the first 72 hours of combat.
