WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) — A United States F-16 fighter jet was hit by small-arms fire in Afghanistan last week, forcing the pilot to eject auxiliary fuel tanks and spare munitions, military officials said.
The pilot was flying over Paktia in eastern Afghanistan on Oct. 13 when one of the jet’s stabilizers and some munitions were hit, said Pentagon spokesman Army Maj. Roger Cabiness. The pilot was forced to jettison two external fuel tanks and three pieces of munitions, and returned to the base unharmed.
“Our pilots routinely face threats from the ground, however they are well-trained and prepared to respond to any threat or attack,” {link:U.S. Air Force Capt. Susan Harrington said.
It is not clear what type of weapon was used to attack the aircraft, but Pentagon officials said it was likely small arms because anything larger would have brought the plane down.
It is rare for F-16s to encounter small arms because they usually fly at altitudes out of the range of the weapons. They do sometimes fly at lower altitudes in a “show of force,” a scare tactic to simulate a flight pattern used when munitions are dropped.
The Taliban had reported it downed a jet last week, but the U.S. military initially said there was no information about the incident until a French news agency provided photographic proof.
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