Event Brief
KC-46A boom damage linked to operator and F-22 errors
Filed: Jun 16, 2026 at 8:03 PM ET
Summary: A U.S. Air Force investigation found incorrect boom-operator inputs and F-22 pilot misjudgment caused a July 2025 mishap.
WHO: U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board
WHAT: Investigation identified incorrect manual control inputs by a KC-46A boom operator and an F-22A pilot not accounting for the boom’s characteristics as causes of severe boom damage.
WHEN: Jun 16, 2026 at 7:20 PM ET
WHERE: Atlantic Ocean
WHY: Incorrect manual control inputs and the F-22A pilot not accounting for the other aircraft’s stiff boom characteristics led to a nozzle binding event and boom strike.
ℹ️ This event is analyzed using pattern arcs, velocity indicators, and source analysis in our MI Console.
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