An F-16 fighter jet turned into a "convertible" after its canopy fell off just minutes after takeoff during a training mission, the first incident of its kind. The pilot remained calm, reported the incident, and landed unharmed. The Air Force has launched an investigation.
During a training flight on Aug. 11, the canopy of an Air Force F-16V fighter detached and fell off. Fortunately, the pilot was able to return to base safely and no one was hurt.
This was the first incident of its kind with the Air Force's new fleet of F-16s. According to reports, the Air Force is leaning towards blaming pilot error and has grounded the pilot.
Chen Kuo-hua, Air Force Spokesperson: “This is all speculation. We need time to figure out what happened and we can't rule out any possibilities right now.“
The F-16 has an automatic bubble canopy comprised of a single piece of polycarbonate. Former Air Force Deputy Command Chang Ting-yen says when the canopy is closed properly, the warning light on the instrument panel turns off. As the pilot would not fail to notice a warning light, Chang believes the detachment was likely a mechanical issue. Chang also says if a jet fighter loses its canopy at a high altitude at night, the pilot's only option is to evacuate.
Chang Yen-ting, Former Air Force Deputy Commander:” The possibility of (the pilot) not locking the canopy properly can't be completely ruled out, because his right hand was on the sidestick controller during takeoff and his left hand was on the accelerator. Did he use his left hand to pull the canopy handle? You can't completely rule out this possibility, but I personally think this scenario is very unlikely.“
If the Air Force investigation committee decides pilot error was to blame, the pilot would be punished with demerits. Chang says the Air Force should categorize this incident as an aviation safety incident and conduct a thorough investigation.
空軍嘉義基地一架F-16V戰機，11號早上執行訓練任務，卻在起飛離地後，短短7分鐘上演驚魂記，座艙罩突然飛脫，所幸飛行員緊急回報，接受塔台管制，戰機順利返降，沒有造成人員傷亡。這是空軍接收F-16以來，首度發生座艙罩在飛行途中脫落，戰機儼然變成「敞篷機」，傳出空軍將此案，朝向人為疏失調查，上尉飛官遭停飛處分。
空軍發言人 陳國華：「還是一個臆測的階段，我想整個過程需要時間我想任何的，包含機械人為環境等等因素都不排除。」
F-16採用氣泡式的無隔框艙罩，密合是採電鈕自動，前空軍副司令張延廷分析，若座艙罩有確實關閉、儀表板警示燈會熄滅，但仍發生脫罩就有可能是機件因素；若是人為疏失，飛行員未注意警示燈是否熄滅，起飛後因高度造成氣壓升高，導致座艙罩脫落，前空軍副司令張延廷指出，戰機若在高空、黑夜發生座艙罩脫落，只能被迫跳傘保命。
前空軍副司令 張延廷：「誤觸電門的可能性也不能完全排除，因為起飛階段他的右手是在駕駛桿上面，左手是在油門上面。那有沒有左手再去拉這個座艙罩的手柄，這種可能性有不能完全排除，但是我認為可能性會非常低。」
飛官疑似誤觸座艙罩的開啟裝置，目前接受專案小組調查，若認定有疏失，將記過處分，張延廷認為，空軍應將此案定為飛安事件，進行通盤檢討。