F/A-18 Hornet Loses Drop Tank Off Catapult Shot

A former F-18 avionics technician speculates that the most likely cause was an accidental press of the emergency jettison button.

This button is designed to eject the fuel tank in an emergency situation. However, safety protocols are in place to prevent such actions while the aircraft is still on the deck.

For the jettison to occur, the plane must be airborne, or at least have “weight off wheels.” In the video of the incident, it’s clear that as soon as the F-18 left the ground, the fuel tank was abruptly ejected.

One can only hope the pilot had a solid explanation for what went wrong!