Alerts Sign-up
A passenger accidentally activated the ejection system of an F-15D fighter jet while the aircraft was taxiing at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts, on August 12, 2025. The incident involved a two-seat variant of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 operated by the 104th Fighter Wing, known as the "Barnestormers." The event was captured on video and shared online, showing the canopy being expelled and the rear-seat occupant crawling away under a deployed parachute.
The 104th Fighter Wing confirmed to AeroTime that "the incident occurred at roughly 14:05 on August 12, 2025. Although one service member was taken to a local hospital for precautionary evaluation, neither occupant was seriously injured, and flight operations were temporarily suspended with a 36-hour safety standdown. The incident is currently under official investigation."
Emergency responders arrived quickly at the scene after the accidental ejection. No serious injuries were reported. Flight operations were halted for a 36-hour safety review before resuming. The names of those involved have not been released pending further investigation.
