F-18 Declares EMERGENCY in MIDDLE of Sea | Diverts to St. Paul

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  • Опубліковано 28 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 182

  • @p.c.9714
    @p.c.9714 2 місяці тому +466

    Got it after a 20 minutes search on the web! 😎😎 "On Monday July 25, 2016, Jessica Earp was monitoring 20 to 30 aircraft in two sectors of sky over the Bering Sea between Alaska and Asia when one voice suddenly declared an emergency. This was a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet (VMFA 242 based in Iwakuni, Japan), on a ferry flight from Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks to a training exercise in Asia. The pilot, Capt. Jesse Simmermon, turned his aircraft back toward Alaska, with another F/A-18 accompanying him. Both were running low on fuel. A tanker aircraft traveling with the jets was refueling another Hornet in the flight group and couldn't break away. Earp said the tanker tried circling back to reach the two F/A-18s. But by that time, the jets were too far away. "When (Simmermon) started asking, 'Where is the tanker, how much farther is it?' I started to hear the catch in his voice," Earp said, recalling the incident. Soon the engine failure forced the Hornet pilots to a lower altitude. Earp said the Hornets were planning to land at King Salmon - still 550 miles away. But she had a different idea. "There's an airport about 80 miles to the southeast, St. Paul," Earp radioed Simmermon:"I can get runway distance, if you need, and conditions." "Affirm," Simmermon promptly replied. "We need all that." Within seconds of Simmermon's request, Earp quickly and calmly relayed the information he'd requested, along with a vector from their current location to the island's airport. Despite dismal weather at other airports across the region, the skies over St. Paul were so clear that the Marines had no problem spotting it over 40 miles away. "It's a needle in a haystack," Earp said. "It was the only viable airport in the Bering Sea he could have landed at." "I will never forget the cool, calm and collected voice which politely suggested that we consider making a landing at St. Paul," Simmermon later wrote in an email thanking Earp. Soon after their landing, Earp said, confirmation of their safe arrival came from an FAA weather camera on the island. Less than an hour after the 2 Hornets were on the ground, Simmermon wrote that the weather had taken a turn for the worse.
    Jessica Earp's handling of the situation earned her the Archie League Medal of Safety Award, named after the first air traffic controller and reserved for members of the profession whose work saves lives. She received the Alaskan Region award at NATCA's convention in Las Vegas.
    (source: Anchorage Daily News Archives)

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +25

      Thank you

    • @Kitt_the_Katt
      @Kitt_the_Katt 2 місяці тому +39

      Thank you for taking the time and effort to look this up

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +13

      Good job 👏

    • @budyeddi5814
      @budyeddi5814 2 місяці тому +16

      @@p.c.9714 this is why I love the comment section 📈

    • @FA_2_Pilot
      @FA_2_Pilot 2 місяці тому +32

      She did a PHENOMENAL job. What a fantastic controller.

  • @dougie9184
    @dougie9184 2 місяці тому +193

    That's who you want on ATC when the chips are down. Great job by Jessica.

  • @frankmartin8471
    @frankmartin8471 2 місяці тому +124

    Her voice out of nowhere telling them that an airport was 80 miles away must have sounded like the angel they needed. Jessica Earp was the right person at the right place at the right time. Listening to this unfold and the resolution brought tears to my eyes.

    • @BrianAnim
      @BrianAnim 2 місяці тому +8

      Glad I'm not the only one!

  • @sammywinstead9007
    @sammywinstead9007 Місяць тому +27

    I flew for the Navy and that lady was the most professional person I think I've ever heard. I hope she was commended for her excellent work

  • @pyme495
    @pyme495 2 місяці тому +124

    Out over the Bering Sea, with an issue bad enough for these guys to say, "An uncontrolled airport, with no support, on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere? Yep, works for us, point us to it". Must've been having a bad day, and quickly turning worse.
    Good job on the part of the controller and the pilots to smoothly work it out and get them down safely.

    • @williampollock1274
      @williampollock1274 2 місяці тому +9

      My thoughts exactly! Could you image the oh shit moment of thought of maybe having to ditch the plane in the freezing cold water of the Bearing sea!😬

    • @andrewwelchphotographer
      @andrewwelchphotographer 2 місяці тому +11

      St Paul traffic, emergency flight of 2, straight in for runway 18 at 350Kts 30 Miles, St Paul.

    • @David-ql1hd
      @David-ql1hd 2 місяці тому +2

      Embarrassing planning...

    • @cageordie
      @cageordie 2 місяці тому +3

      A runway six times longer than their ship... but no arrestor gear.

    • @cageordie
      @cageordie 2 місяці тому +5

      @@David-ql1hd Why? What is planned about losing an engine? Or did the significance of only one aircraft having an emergency, and not being able to maintain altitude, escape you?

  • @tcolitti
    @tcolitti 2 місяці тому +53

    ATC Was an absolute Rock Star! Amazing job, Ma'am.

  • @jimbutler6645
    @jimbutler6645 Місяць тому +17

    Jessica truly was an Angel to those two pilots. Job well done Ma'am!

  • @alanmckeown5377
    @alanmckeown5377 2 місяці тому +58

    Lady controller is super professional

  • @kungpao42
    @kungpao42 Місяць тому +20

    That is some top notch ATC guidance for our AF guys at the time in need. Great job!

  • @HotBodHen
    @HotBodHen Місяць тому +15

    Incredibly lucky that the weather allowed them to have a visual of the runway. Its more common than not to turn around in commercial flights because the weather is too bad to land there. I've been turned around more times than landed in St. Paul.

  • @logowatchman
    @logowatchman Місяць тому +10

    As a former air weapons controller my hat is off to the ATC controller. She did a beautiful job.

  • @chrismaggio7879
    @chrismaggio7879 2 місяці тому +68

    These pilots can find a steel football field in the middle of the ocean and land on it in pitching seat, in the dark. This island must have seemed huge, and perfectly still. Jessica made this happen and she deserves a ride in an F 18. (Fully fueled this time)

    • @dreed7312
      @dreed7312 2 місяці тому +3

      Unless there are polar bears on the runway . . . 😮

    • @redtailpunk
      @redtailpunk 2 місяці тому +2

      best comment hahahhaa

    • @ghandimauler
      @ghandimauler Місяць тому +3

      @@dreed7312 Then you stay in your bird.

  • @mikemmikem2758
    @mikemmikem2758 Місяць тому +10

    Well I know who I'd want to talk to in an emergency situation. Outstanding professionalism.

  • @bmwtravel1100
    @bmwtravel1100 2 місяці тому +57

    thank you, aircraft controller, for getting these two birds to safety over the Bering Sea. you done good.

  • @shawon_rahaman
    @shawon_rahaman 2 місяці тому +41

    What a controller! Good job 👍

  • @dogmandan79
    @dogmandan79 2 місяці тому +15

    That gals legit and to the point clear and specific. Kudos to her.

  • @geraldroberts4721
    @geraldroberts4721 2 місяці тому +24

    Congrats Jessica and thank you for helping our Marines. God bless and know we are greatful you were there.

  • @kshepard52
    @kshepard52 Місяць тому +5

    Wow. Having to eject over the Bering sea is a really, really unpleasant thought. Aircraft gone, lucky to get out without injury, rough, extremely cold water in a flight/G-suit and vest and a long way from any SAR. Both pilots should be asking Jessica when her birthday is!

    • @brmam1385
      @brmam1385 23 дні тому

      Bet they did…👍

  • @sarge6870
    @sarge6870 2 місяці тому +9

    Shout out the the ATC on this one. She sounds well trained and knowledgeable!!

  • @mark4347
    @mark4347 11 днів тому +2

    Wow! Not one unusable word spoken. So happy that this video was placed in my feed. Congrats to that very well disciplined professional Jessica Earp.

  • @billsmith5166
    @billsmith5166 2 місяці тому +11

    Holy Mary she's good. Could NOT have done better.

  • @joeblow5037
    @joeblow5037 2 місяці тому +10

    Man, that was an excellent ATC!

  • @ginvr
    @ginvr 2 місяці тому +9

    What a wonderfully helpful and professional controller, Thank you

  • @hookin1
    @hookin1 Місяць тому +4

    When you are showing off your new Beech King Air to the crab fleet mates, and then these guys show up.
    Awesome job by ATC. You can hear the relief in his tone when she said airport at 80 miles.

  • @RK-he9dv
    @RK-he9dv Місяць тому +5

    The atc was on point.

  • @crandallcrute3918
    @crandallcrute3918 2 місяці тому +19

    Amazing Controller - incredible!

  • @jason6919
    @jason6919 2 місяці тому +49

    Military aircraft commicate on such a higher level and clarity.

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +3

      Yeah

    • @jason6919
      @jason6919 2 місяці тому +8

      @Flight_Follower I also follow Ward Caroll's page. His recent one on fuel tankers was top notch. Never knew that Navy and Aitr Force had two different methods. I've seen them both but never knew the difference. War caused them to adapt and conquer. Also Business Insider. I travel the world through their videos. My quest for knowledge is endless.

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +4

      Welcome to our channel sir

    • @Flysh24
      @Flysh24 Місяць тому +1

      Pretty much the same as any professional pilot

  • @simplyryguy9335
    @simplyryguy9335 Місяць тому +3

    These give me the chills but make me very proud of all involved.

  • @thomasbeatty9496
    @thomasbeatty9496 2 місяці тому +5

    What a terrific Controller. Hope the Marines made it in safely.

  • @intrinsicimagery
    @intrinsicimagery 2 місяці тому +3

    American hero. Thank you Jessica.

  • @lawrencemartin1113
    @lawrencemartin1113 15 днів тому

    What a fantastic woman!! So calm and so totally focussed and professional, she absolutely made every bit of difference that day. I hope she feels ten feet tall! So glad those guys made it to a safe recovery back to feet dry!

  • @lisacochrane5570
    @lisacochrane5570 2 місяці тому +4

    Excellent ATC.. great communication and situational awareness.

  • @greyjay9202
    @greyjay9202 13 днів тому

    Jessica Earp gave those Marine aviators exactly what they needed, every step of the way.
    Notice also how polite and respectful they were to her. Very well done.

  • @westernkingi9157
    @westernkingi9157 Місяць тому +4

    Yes, she got the award now the pay rise. She's a real professional.

  • @MrCyp200la
    @MrCyp200la 2 місяці тому +6

    She did an amazing job.👍

  • @davidmcdonald562
    @davidmcdonald562 2 місяці тому +3

    Professionalism at its finest.

  • @ChristopheJOUAN-qd3xu
    @ChristopheJOUAN-qd3xu Місяць тому +3

    Thank you very much for this very interesting video! I've been really impressed by the professionalism of this Lady. You just got another follower! 🙂👍

  • @robbynelson3
    @robbynelson3 2 місяці тому +3

    Badass ATC.

  • @thewatcher5271
    @thewatcher5271 2 місяці тому +4

    Great Audio! I Love Listening To ATC When They Don't Sound Like An Auctioneer! Thank You. (Like #528)

  • @ardeladimwit
    @ardeladimwit 2 місяці тому +27

    pilots waiting for the local Uber to collect them. pop 413. somebody will feed them.

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому

      😂😂

    • @harryfatcat
      @harryfatcat 2 місяці тому

      I believe there's a bar or two on St Paul for them to warm up at. It's a busy port for the crab fleet.

    • @ardeladimwit
      @ardeladimwit 2 місяці тому

      @@harryfatcat petty much figured that. ever heard of the Altair or Americus?

  • @BarnLake
    @BarnLake 5 днів тому

    ATC and pilots were awesome!!!!!!!!

  • @tscott6843
    @tscott6843 2 місяці тому +4

    Very professional all around.

  • @ohrazda1956
    @ohrazda1956 2 місяці тому +2

    ATC was on top of her game that day. BZ

  • @kylewinings8812
    @kylewinings8812 10 днів тому

    Amazing job by all involved. Everyone knows that FUED63 wanted to key up in his best Jester voice "you never leave your wingman"

  • @jimydoolittle3129
    @jimydoolittle3129 2 місяці тому +2

    There’s no way they make it to king Salmon , great job ATC , awesome pilots ,

  • @deandrearceneaux3660
    @deandrearceneaux3660 25 днів тому +1

    Outstanding Supporting
    Outstanding job , you rock

  • @skylarking12
    @skylarking12 2 місяці тому +10

    Always beats a swim

    • @toastrecon
      @toastrecon 2 місяці тому +1

      Oh man. That area is NOT a place I’d want to be swimming!!

  • @jaminjosh23
    @jaminjosh23 Місяць тому

    Truly fascinating how quickly that all unfolded with the distances covered. Admittedly I’m ignorant to the ins and outs of these systems but impressive work under pressure on both ends.

  • @user-wg3wj6ur9z
    @user-wg3wj6ur9z 2 місяці тому +4

    ATC for the win.

  • @Hawaiian80882
    @Hawaiian80882 Місяць тому +1

    Imagine all the terrible scenario's going through his mind thinking he's going to have to punch-out over the Freezing-deadly Bering Sea....Then Jessica's voice pipes in!...I wouldn't have cared if he choked up a bit....

  • @jmWhyMe
    @jmWhyMe 2 місяці тому +9

    This isn't the first fighter flight ive seen recently where they went bingo gas. But this was so much worse being over the Bering Sea! It would take the JayHawks from Kodiak a long time to reach them if they had to punch!

    • @douglasphillips1203
      @douglasphillips1203 2 місяці тому +1

      Not to mention without the proper survival suits they wouldn't survive the temps long enough to be picked up, unless they really caught a break and there was a fishing boat right where they ditched ... good thing everything worked out well for them!

    • @cageordie
      @cageordie 2 місяці тому +2

      So, just use your imagination, how do you think 'bingo gas' would make them "unable to maintain altitude". He lost an engine.

    • @jmWhyMe
      @jmWhyMe 2 місяці тому +1

      @@cageordie I don't know the fuel system on this fighter, but if a tank on one side goes dry, then the engine on that side could flame out, particularly if there isn't enough in the other tank to cross feed... I'm only a retired Navy ship driver, not a pilot!
      Also, that's why I think the 35 is a really bad design. It's bad enough to flame out one on a twin engine bird. Flaming out one on a single engine bird will ruin your day!

    • @Skyhawks1979
      @Skyhawks1979 Місяць тому +1

      @@jmWhyMe Dosent work that way. External fuel stores feed up into the main tank. Then feed tanks feed to the main tank which provides fuel to both engines. If one runs out of fuel, they both run out of fuel.

    • @djbeste
      @djbeste Місяць тому +1

      I would think they should have known their options for such cases pre-flight. Especially, if bingo fuel is not so rare and then in such rough environment. Not sure if they are to blame, but I would review the procedures of the preparation and briefing.

  • @michaeldavies4871
    @michaeldavies4871 2 місяці тому +9

    This controller definitely had her shit wired tight. 👍🏻

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому

      😂

    • @brmam1385
      @brmam1385 23 дні тому

      @@Flight_Follower As prior Svc, I’d take that compliment & hug it forever.! 👍♥🇺🇸

  • @lcf34
    @lcf34 2 місяці тому +2

    Incredible work

  • @nelsonbrandt7847
    @nelsonbrandt7847 2 місяці тому +1

    How lucky they had VFR weather over the Bearing Sea. When does that ever happen? Glad they made it.

  • @deanc.5984
    @deanc.5984 2 місяці тому

    Wow, friendly ATC did everything for them!

  • @Jon.......
    @Jon....... Місяць тому +1

    Good job! But what caused the problem to begin with? Stronger than forecast winds? Late arrival of the tanker aircraft? Mission Planning errors? Newbie pilots that took too long to get their fuel?

  • @Zmarcobustallis
    @Zmarcobustallis 2 місяці тому +3

    Top notch both ways.

  • @tysoncott7402
    @tysoncott7402 2 місяці тому +1

    Fighter jets and there thirst for fuel, i have watched many interviews where the pilots say thats the most stressful part of flying missions.

  • @robertopiedimonte2078
    @robertopiedimonte2078 Місяць тому

    I immagine her with long shiny blonde hair dressed in white Navy uniforme, a mix of a servicewoman and an angel.
    She is an example of calm, clear, succint comunication!
    Angel, why angel?
    Who else all over the Barents Sea in bad weather condition could find and keep in clear weather just the needed two hours an uninhabited island with a runway?
    But this is a dream, our Jessica is a real everyday hero.
    Much better!

  • @trappedinkalifornee
    @trappedinkalifornee Місяць тому

    Nice job ATC👍🏼👍🏼

  • @salvatoremarinello278
    @salvatoremarinello278 2 місяці тому

    Awesome work by Earp!

  • @StickA-yd4fp
    @StickA-yd4fp 2 місяці тому

    That is wild they had no tanker support in the area. I can see one having a fuel issue but not both unless the wingman was landing with regardless.

    • @rubenjanssen1672
      @rubenjanssen1672 Місяць тому +1

      aparently they had because they were to fly to asia. the rtanker was unabele to divert with them becaues he was refuling other aircraft. the moement he was abele to turn the jets were to far away to reach

  • @Dub-ro9tk
    @Dub-ro9tk 2 місяці тому +1

    Great stuff!

  • @budyeddi5814
    @budyeddi5814 2 місяці тому +8

    Any ideas on what the issue might have been?

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +3

      I don’t have any information. Sorry for that

    • @budyeddi5814
      @budyeddi5814 2 місяці тому +3

      @@Flight_Follower I figured the audience might have a few interesting theories ^_^

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +4

      @@budyeddi5814 waiting for those 😬

    • @antoineroquentin2297
      @antoineroquentin2297 2 місяці тому

      @@budyeddi5814 classified :P

    • @paulcantrell01451
      @paulcantrell01451 2 місяці тому +3

      It said they were low on fuel, tanker got too far away to be an option. Bailing out at that latitude has got to be a very grim choice...

  • @johnravelo6321
    @johnravelo6321 2 місяці тому +1

    Good job lady!

  • @audreyfaulkner9399
    @audreyfaulkner9399 Місяць тому

    Good Job !!

  • @11C1P
    @11C1P 2 місяці тому +5

    Diverts to St. Paul ISLAND. Big difference between St. Paul which is in the middle of the continent & St. Paul Island which in the the Bering sea. Nice clickbait title though.

  • @OneSkiWonder
    @OneSkiWonder 12 днів тому

    What is MARSA?

    • @Vortex-gz8se
      @Vortex-gz8se 11 днів тому +1

      Military Assumes Responsibility for Separation of Aircraft -- basically when military aircraft are flying in formation it is their responsibility not to run into each other.

  • @EL_Mook
    @EL_Mook Місяць тому +1

    I wonder, can any military aircraft whether they're for training, cargo, fighter, heli, etc. make a 'pretend' emergency Mayday call without informing ATC to test the readiness of ATC, ground crews, and any other necessary services/agency's throughout USA territory? Like a surprise 'audit' I suppose. I mean, I'm sure there are hoops you have to jump through and people you gotta tell to perform an exercise like this, but what if the pilot just doesn't tell anyone except his direct superior that they plan on testing readiness of action? Who would need to know of it, and if everyone knows wouldn't that defeat the whole purpose of the readiness audit?
    Please Note: I am no pilot nor am I in the military, just a regular civy curious about a 'What If...?'

  • @coolbear6441
    @coolbear6441 23 дні тому

    I take it a tanker came in to refuel them?

  • @dreed7312
    @dreed7312 2 місяці тому

    Glad there wan't any wildlife on the runway. He had no way to know until he was there and out of air.

  • @michaelbellinger6799
    @michaelbellinger6799 2 місяці тому +3

    FEUD, not FUED

  • @thomsghost769
    @thomsghost769 2 місяці тому

    Nice!

  • @navajojohn9448
    @navajojohn9448 2 місяці тому +3

    Maybe they should issue a good handheld GPS to crews so they can see what is where.

    • @Flight_Follower
      @Flight_Follower  2 місяці тому +3

      You are kidding. Right??

    • @peterstickney7608
      @peterstickney7608 2 місяці тому +1

      GPS doesn't do so well in the Far North - Satellite Coverage is worse than spotty above the Arctic Circle. Orbital inclination of the Sats is about 60 degrees. The Arctic Circle is 65. So - you either don't have a line of sight to a sufficient number of sats, or they're so close to the horizon that lensing can occur. Your only reliable NAV system is INS (Intertial Navigation Systems), and that depends on a proper alignment and location at takeoff, and accuracy drifts over time, as errors add up. (And there are always errors.)

    • @charredUtensil
      @charredUtensil Місяць тому

      ​@@peterstickney7608Also, Earth is round and the coordinate systems we use for navigation are inherently built on assumptions that stop being true closer to the poles.

    • @xheralt
      @xheralt Місяць тому

      Civilian GPS is insecure, detectable, and trackable by unfriendlies. Not happening.

  • @RaceBanner_
    @RaceBanner_ Місяць тому

    F E U D.

  • @mweb1
    @mweb1 2 місяці тому

    False headline.

    • @xheralt
      @xheralt Місяць тому

      Not false, just not quite specific enough.

  • @Hide.the.Salami
    @Hide.the.Salami 13 днів тому

    e then u

  • @bunglejoy3645
    @bunglejoy3645 2 місяці тому

    Would the airport have fire appliances if there was jo vontrol tower thank god landing went well if there was no engines they must have bern really desperate dituation to tske a jon vontrolled airport refulering pksne mystvhave bern desperate ehrn it couldnt hrlp as it was refuerling one but how had three planes tun iut of furl they needed engineers down to their landing g places to check plane over begore they risked flying back to their base

  • @eaglerare1273
    @eaglerare1273 2 місяці тому

    Calm as a cucumber 🥒

  • @Vanya80151
    @Vanya80151 2 місяці тому

    If the map position is accurate, the nearest airport on land was Bethel, not Salmon. Not sure what they were thinking, if this was an emergency, why did they need to be pointed to SNP? Hit the "nearest" button on your GPS and point your airplane in that direction.

    • @Mentaloow
      @Mentaloow 2 місяці тому +5

      You been playing too much MSFS my dude. That ain't how an F18 works.

    • @Vanya80151
      @Vanya80151 2 місяці тому

      @@Mentaloow I don't play MSFS. I do fly real airplanes, and that is how it works in real life in airplanes that I fly.

    • @Skyhawks1979
      @Skyhawks1979 Місяць тому

      @@Vanya80151 Im a bit perplexed as to why the diverted Hornets were not aware of that divert. Diverts along the rout would have been a briefing item.

  • @ryanowen1118
    @ryanowen1118 Місяць тому

    @74gear how it's done! Professionals in action.

  • @-Primer-
    @-Primer- 2 місяці тому +2

    Wow. If you were looking for a whole lotta nothing, St. Paul Island is the place to be.

    • @Peace2U-ec6es
      @Peace2U-ec6es 2 місяці тому +4

      They have an airport and a 6500 ft runway. That's a whole lotta something. Ask the pilots.