Welcome to Luke Air Force Base, where safety always comes first. Recently, an F-16 Fighting Falcon underwent maintenance checks, resulting in two ground emergencies being declared.
During these emergencies, up to 13 personnel were transported to local hospitals as a precaution. Thankfully, all personnel were evaluated and released without any major issues.
The first ground emergency occurred around 4:40 p.m. when there was a potential activation of the aircraft’s emergency power unit. Fortunately, it was determined that no hydrazine, a highly reactive rocket propellant, was released.
Late into the evening, a second ground emergency was declared with the same aircraft. Again, no hydrazine was released, and the emergency was resolved by 10:30 p.m.
Hydrazine exposure can have severe health consequences, affecting the liver, kidneys, lungs, and central nervous system. Understanding these risks, Luke AFB has decided to conduct further testing before returning the aircraft to service.
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