Firefighters Eventually Had To Cut Him Out

An alert News-Spy forwarded along an official Department of Defense report concerning a stuck canopy on one of the Air Force's new F-22A Raptor fighters, that resulted in a few tense moments as ground crews worked to figure out how to get the pilot out of the aircraft.

According to Air Force documents, the incident occured on the morning of April 10, and involved Raptor 03-041. During preflight checks, a "Red Ball" warning for a canopy unlock indication displayed, and the pilot's attempts to clear the problems by cycling the canopy failed.

After cycling of the canopy for the final time, it remained in the down and locked position -- trapping the pilot in the cockpit. The pilot subsequently aborted his preflight check, and called for ground crews to help him figure out what had happened.

The 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit consulted with Lockheed Martin and the F-22A System Program Office to see if there was any alternate way to open the canopy and free the pilot -- but alas, those options failed.

Eventually, fire department personnel were called to the scene to cut the canopy glass and free the pilot. At approximately 1315 -- almost five hours after the ordeal began -- the pilot was freed from the plane.

Crews are now troubleshooting the plane, to determine what caused the latch failure.

According to the report, the cost of a replacement canopy is over $182,000 -- nevermind the added cost to repair the subsequent damage to the aircraft's radar-absorbent skin, caused by the cut canopy glass on the plane's fuselage.

FMI: www.af.mil