Aircraft catches fire at SJAFB
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 25, 2016 1:45 AM
An F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft caught on fire at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Friday morning.
According to SJAFB public affairs, the airplane's jet fuel starter exhaust caught on fire around 11:05 a.m. Friday.
The jet fuel starter is a small onboard engine used to start the aircraft's main engines.
No service members or civilians were injured as a result of the fire.
The fire was extinguished by a wheeled fire extinguisher that was on the aircraft.
The Goldsboro Fire Department also responded to the aircraft fire.
"Fast reactions by air and ground crews ensured the safe and expedient control of the incident," said Public Affairs Specialist Robert Kerns in an email. "Seymour Johnson flight line operations are conducted as safely as possible and all Airmen that engage in flight line operations are highly-trained and well equipped to handle any emergency. We would like to thank Goldsboro Emergency Responders for their prompt and professional response."
Sgt. Michael Charles with SJAFB Public Affairs said the aircraft is now undergoing a complete maintenance check and safety inspection to determine what repairs will be needed, the cost of repairs and what started the fire.
Charles said aircraft fires such as the one today happen often, and that is why the United States Air Force trains crew and maintenance members on how to extinguish aircraft fires rapidly.
He added that the jet was undergoing its normal start-up procedures when the fire happened, and was slated to conduct a training mission when the fire happened.