Two South Korea-based U.S. fighter jets en route to Eielson Air Force Base made an emergency landing Monday on a remote island in the Bering Sea.
An Air Force spokesperson said an F-16 from Kunsan Air Base had an engine problem Monday that required the pilot to land at the nearest airfield that could accommodate it. A second F-16 flew along and both landed at the St. Paul Island Airport.
They’re still there, the spokesperson said Thursday, awaiting maintenance and repair, the spokesperson said Thursday.
The aircraft are assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing based at Kunsan, a U.S. air base in the Republic of Korea.
The spokesperson said the aircraft were on the way to Eielson, located near Fairbanks, to help support an upcoming training exercise.
Both pilots are safe and awaiting help to repair the F-16 so they can resume their flight to Eielson, the spokesperson said.
