An F-15D Eagle experienced an in-flight emergency around 3 p.m. Monday and exited a runway while landing at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Ore., according to the Air Force.
“The pilot exited the aircraft safely, and is being transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center for precautionary measures and evaluation,” the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing said in a Facebook message shortly after the incident.
The 173rd’s mission involves training F-15 pilots under the Air Education and Training Command, according to the unit’s official website.
A number of F-15C/D fighters from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, were sent to Kingsley Field starting in December, according to a news release by the 173rd that month.
Two F-15 squadrons at Kadena — nearly 50 fighters — are being phased out over two years and replaced by rotational fighters.
Kingsley Field is the ideal place to receive the jets departing Okinawa, according to the 173rd news release.
“Kingsley’s geographic location on the West Coast makes it an easy choice due to the proximity of the stop-over location, Hickam Air Force Base, (Hawaii),” Col. Adam Gaudinski, the 173rd Maintenance Group commander, said in the release. “Additionally, we were chosen due to our vast maintenance experience, unique capabilities, and our immense ramp and hangar space.”
More information on the emergency will be shared as it becomes available, the wing said in its Facebook message.
