RAF Typhoon targeting pod falls in field during training in Yorkshire
A pylon from a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon detached mid-air and landed in a field in Haisthorpe, near Bridlington, East Yorkshire, during a training flight on January 17, 2024.
The fighter jet belonged to one of the units based at RAF Coningsby, located approximately 105 kilometers (65 miles) south of Haisthorpe.
A pylon is a structural component mounted on an aircraft, typically on the hardpoints under the wings or fuselage. It serves as an attachment point for carrying various external equipment, including weapons, fuel tanks, or sensor pods.
According to photos released by the BBC, the dropped pylon was used to carry a Litening targeting pod. The equipment appeared to have been heavily damaged.
“The RAF have recovered the equipment and are investigating the cause of it detaching from the aircraft,” an RAF spokesperson told the Bridlington Echo. “There was no damage to any property nor was anyone hurt.”
The Litening targeting pod
The AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pod is a system jointly developed by Northrop Grumman and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is equipped with a high-resolution forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, enabling the identification and tracking of targets over long distances. This is especially useful during Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions, some of which are conducted by RAF Coningsby-based fighters.
Widely used by air forces worldwide, the Litening pod is an integral component of RAF Typhoons and other military aircraft, such as the Italian Air Force AMX and the Indian Air Force Tejas.
RELATED
RAF Typhoon Litening III pod mistakenly destroyed during testing
While this event is notable, it is not the first incident to involve a detached Litening pod. In 2021, a Litening III pod was destroyed after falling from a Royal Air Force Typhoon during a test. The British Ministry of Defence reported the loss, valued at £640,000 ($900,000), in its 2019/2020 financial year report.
RELATED
Fuel tank from F-16 fighter jet falls in residential area near Eglin Air Force Base
More recently, on January 7, 2025, a fuel tank from a US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet fell in a residential area in Niceville, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base. There were no reported injuries, fatalities or damage to property as a result of the incident.
The post RAF Typhoon targeting pod falls in field during training in Yorkshire appeared first on AeroTime.
A pylon from a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon detached mid-air and landed in a field in Haisthorpe,…
The post RAF Typhoon targeting pod falls in field during training in Yorkshire appeared first on AeroTime.
