USAF KC-46A Tanker Causes Asphalt Damage at Fairbanks International Airport During Engine Test
A KC-46A Pegasus tanker from the New Hampshire Air National Guard damaged Fairbanks International Airport by dislodging asphalt during an engine test on July 16, 2025. The incident created a 25-foot-wide hole and resulted in $147,044 in repair costs. The aircraft was performing high-power engine runs when airflow from the right engine degraded the asphalt sealant, leading to the asphalt breaking apart. No damage occurred to the aircraft itself.
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On July 16, 2025, a KC-46A Pegasus tanker assigned to the New Hampshire Air National Guard caused a significant asphalt damage at Fairbanks International Airport during engine tests. The aircraft, which had experienced engine vibrations upon landing, was undergoing high-power engine runs when exhaust airflow from the right engine dislodged two large asphalt blocks, creating a 25-foot-wide hole and resulting in $147,044 in repair costs.
A maintenance recovery team had attempted to balance the engines but encountered issues due to wind conditions prior to the incident. The KC-46A, developed since 2011, aims to modernize the US Air Force's tanker fleet.
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