Officials are investigating what appears to be the accidental ejection of a ride-along passenger in an F-15D at Barnes Air National Guard in Massachusetts. A video that appeared on social media on Wednesday shows the fighter and its pilot taxiing with the blown canopy on the left wing and the passenger crawling up the grass toward the runway. The video is not dated. The condition of the passenger has not been released as various military new publications scramble to find details about the event. The passenger may have been a service member on a familiarization flight, but nothing has been confirmed.
The zero-altitude, zero-speed ejection appears to have happened after the plane landed. Audio from the video, obtained by The War Zone, includes details of the aftermath, including a minimum two-hour closure of the runway as emergency crews were dispatched. The pilot confirmed he was OK to the air traffic controller. More details are expected later Thursday.
Video and ATC from yesterday. The backseater of RAMBO 01 (F-15D 104th FW Massachusetts ANG) accidentally ejected while taxiing back after a alleged incentive flight at Westfield-Barnes Airport, MA
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 14, 2025
The backseater survived and the runway was shut down. You can see the cockpit… pic.twitter.com/9ZIAV9ENPl
Tail code MA … for Mishap Aircraft. Very convenient choice!
That’s certainly one way to “safe” the seat after landing.
Russ, I just received my first AVBrief newsletter, the interesting content is back. Thanks
Russ is in charge. We can all rest easy again.