TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A military pilot escaped unharmed after a Tucson Air National Guard fighter jet malfunctioned on takeoff, briefly closing Tucson International Airport to commercial traffic.
Guard officials said the jet was traveling at high speed just before takeoff Tuesday afternoon when the pilot noticed something was wrong and aborted the flight by performing an emergency braking maneuver.
The pilot was able to stop the F-16C by dropping a hook that snagged on a cable stretched across the runway.
The disabled jet blew a tire as it tried to stop, scattering debris that closed Tucson International to civilian flights for 90 minutes.
Five commercial airliners trying to land in Tucson were diverted to Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport, and several more flights were delayed during the cleanup, said Sgt. Dennis Lee, of the TIA Police Department.
The nature of the aircraft malfunction was not disclosed because the mishap was under investigation, said Lt. Col. Chuck Roque of the 162nd Fighter Wing.
Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com
