Massive fuel tank falls from fighter jet, lands in Florida neighborhood — narrowly missing grade school
Not exactly a “Top Gun” moment.
A 300-gallon fuel tank fell from a fighter jet and landed in a Florida neighborhood — narrowly missing an elementary school and ultimately landing in someone’s yard, officials said Thursday.
The supersonic F-16 Fighting Falcon was soaring near the Eglin Air Force base at 11 a.m. Tuesday, when the massive container of gas came crashing down in Niceville, military officials said.
The tank missed cars, people and houses and landed in between two homes, roughly 1,900 feet from Edge Elementary school, according to the Air Force and city officials.
“Only by the grace of God, it landed between two houses,” Niceville City Manager David Deitch told Mid Bay News.
Neighbors were jostled by the boom of the tank smashing into the ground, which left behind scrap metal wreckage and the powerful smell of gas, the outlet reported.
Nobody was injured in the freak accident.
Students were not at school when the tank landed but were set to return the following day, Okaloosa County School District told Military.com.
The incident, which took place roughly 13 miles from the Air Force base, is under investigation.
