Dutch F-16 fighters diverge in Eindhoven

Dutch F-16 fighters diverted to Eindhoven AFB due to strong crosswinds raging on
their home base in Volkel.

Dutch photojournalists Joris van Boven and Alex van Noye provided Blog Before Flight with some interesting shots of Dutch Vipers taken yesterday in Eindhoven, Southern Netherlands.

They told us that on the afternoon of March 17, 2021, eight Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 fighters were hijacked at Eindhoven Air Base (ICAO: EHEH) due to strong crosswinds raging on their home base in Volkel. The weather conditions at Volkel exceeded the safety limits and did not guarantee a safe landing. Although the two bases are very close, the different orientation of the runway at Eindhoven airport allowed for a safe approach.

The eight F-16s then returned to Volkel later that day after an improvement in the weather. Some photos show the aircraft taking off with clouds of steam behind due to the contact of the afterburners with the wet runway.

Photo Credits: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noye