Font ResizeA low-flying fighter jet dropped a fuel tank on the west side of Hill Air Force Base on Thursday afternoon, causing an explosion that knocked out power for thousands of workers at the Northern Utah military facility.
The explosion occurred in an area of the base used for ammunition storage, but video from news helicopters show what appears to be a destroyed work shed.
Hill spokeswoman Barbara Fisher said that an F-16 fighter jet pilot experienced an in-flight emergency during take-off and "followed emergency procedures" before landing safely. A press conference will be held at 6:15 p.m.
Fisher said the jet landed safely.
The Davis County Sheriff's office confirmed that the tank came off one of the
It was the second time in less than a year that an F-16 from Hill jettisoned its tank. In December, a pilot dropped two external fuel tanks into the Great Salt Lake approximately three miles north of Antelope Island, spilling as much as 500 gallons of jet fuel into the water. The incident -- which did not cause an explosion -- occurred after the pilot's sensors indicated a potential fire.
And just last week, a Vermont Air National Guard F-16 jettisoned two fuel tanks into Lake Champlain after declaring an in-flight emergency.
Jessica Zepeda, who works near the base, said she heard the explosion about 3:50 p.m. and saw a dark grey plume of black smoke rising from the west
"My first thought was, 'where are my mother and my brother,' because they work on the base," said Zepeda. "Nothing good could come of that kind of black smoke."
Zepeda said she soon made contact with her mother and brother, who were unhurt in the incident and told her that power had been lost at the base.
Utah Highway Patrol reports Interstate 15 northbound was closed for 45 minutes between and Roy and Sunset, but was reopened at 6:15 p.m. UHP expects congestion to remain heavy in the area.
Tribune reporter Jason Bergreen contributed to this story.
