A KC-10 tanker made an emergency landing at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Tuesday afternoon after its refueling boom “separated from the aircraft near the range complex,” according to a Mountain Home release. The tanker, which was assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, Calif., was supporting the Gunfighter Flag Exercise at the time. “All crew members are safe and no injuries have been reported on the aircraft or on the ground,” states the release. The boom landed in a field about five miles west of Hammett, Idaho. It did not hit any people or structures, said TSgt. John Ayre, a Mountain Home spokesman. Ayre said he is not aware of any fuel spills as a result of the incident.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.