IAF pilot almost emergency landed in Tehran during strikes over fuel malfunction
An Israeli Air Force F-15 'Baz' fighter jet experienced a critical fuel malfunction while en route to carry out a strike near Tehran during Operation Rising Lion, N12 revealed in a report on Saturday.
The aircraft, which was operating deep inside Iranian territory, encountered a failure in one of its fuel tanks, preventing it from accessing necessary fuel during the mission. The malfunction resulted in a serious fuel shortage midflight, threatening to compromise the operation.
Unlike some previous IAF missions, no aerial refueling tanker had been deployed in advance. Once the pilot identified the issue, he reported it in real time, prompting an urgent response. A tanker aircraft was scrambled and reached the fighter jet in time to conduct an emergency refueling.
Despite the complications, the air crews managed to resolve the problem without deviating from the flight path. A contingency plan was prepared in parallel, which included the option of landing in a neighboring country should the malfunction persist. This was considered in order to avoid the possibility of an Israeli warplane being forced down in central Tehran.
In a related report, N12 revealed that IAF Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar had outlined a worst-case scenario prior to the operation.
According to the internal military assessment, up to 10 Israeli aircraft could be hit or crash within the first 72 hours of fighting. The scenario was presented in closed briefings as part of the IDF's operational risk planning. That grim forecast, however, did not come to pass.
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