48th Fighter Wing Airmen team-up to bring pilot home safely

by Staff Sgt. Emerson Nuñez
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England  -- An F-15D Eagle fighter aircraft assigned to the 493d Fighter Squadron crashed in a field near Spalding, England Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. The only Airman on board, a pilot, ejected and made it back to RAF Lakenheath safely thanks to the work of Airmen from the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron egress section, 48th Operations Support Squadron Air Crew Flight Equipment shop, and the 56th Rescue Squadron.

The incident did not result in any injuries to people on the ground or to the pilot.

Though our pilots prepare for any possible emergencies, they still rely on their equipment to function in these crucial moments.

Col. Robert Novotny, 48th Fighter Wing commander, said "thank you" to the Airmen that made this pilot's return back to RAF Lakenheath possible.

"When the pilot made the last minute decision of 'I have to save my life,' and reached for the handles, it worked, and it worked because of the work you guys do," said Novotny. "Thank you for saving one of our pilot's lives."

Airmen from the three different sections played major roles in ensuring the pilot made it home safe.

Airmen from the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron egress section were responsible for ensuring the pilot's seat and all of the ejection components worked properly safely, allowing the pilot to eject.

Members of the 48th Operations Support Squadron AFE shop made sure the parachute in the seat deployed properly.

Airmen from the 56th Rescue Squadron retrieved the pilot and returned him safely to RAF Lakenheath in a timely manner.

All these moving pieces, working as designed, allowed for a positive outcome and resulted in a grateful Wing.

"I am happy to know that when I go and fly, if I have to pull the handles, I know that everything is going to work and I am going to go home and see my family," said Novotny.