A Dutch F-16 fighter jet flying a training exercise over the Netherlands scored a direct hit \u2014 on itself \u2014 when the pilot fired the aircraft\u2019s 20mm rotary cannon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, even inanimate objects will do anything to get out of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Royal Netherlands Air Force pilot was able to make an emergency landing at Leeuwarden Air Base after the plane suffered \u201cconsiderable damage,\u201d according to a report from Dutch state media<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least one round ripped through the jet\u2019s exterior, the report said, while munition fragments were also found in the aircraft\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a serious incident,” Wim Bagerbos, inspector general at the Netherlands Department of Defense, told Dutch media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe therefore want to fully investigate what happened and how we would be able to avoid this in future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. aviators, of late, have dealt with a boon of aircraft mishaps<\/a>, most notably incidents involving mid-air oxygen system failures resulting in a spike of reported physiological episodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But a plane firing on itself, especially with its own autocannon, is almost unheard of \u2014 and impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\t