A screenshot from the video
An unknown number of aircraft, including the advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets, were damaged when the Hurricane Michael mauled Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, the US Air Force confirmed.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Defense News that some jets were parked inside Tyndall’s hangars due to maintenance or safety reasons. All of those hangars were hit by the hurricane. According to an official version, the Air Force was unable to identify the number of aircraft damaged and to say which models were impacted.
According to US media, out of the 55 F-22 jets stationed at the air base, 33 had been moved prior to the storm’s arrival. Thus, 22 were left at Tyndall. Considering the level of destruction, all of them could be damaged. One F-22 jet costs about $339m.
Seems some F-22 airframes at Tyndall AFB were not relocated before #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/CypRJ4W3dg
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) October 12, 2018
#HurricaneMichael barreled over the Florida Panhandle causing extensive damage to Tyndall Air Force Base, #Florida, Oct. 10. This footage, captured the next day, shows the damage down U.S. Highway 98, which cuts through the center of the base. #TyndallAFB pic.twitter.com/VmF8gMS6A7
— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) October 12, 2018
So one F-22 airframe has been spotted in a roofless hangar at Tyndall. Check out the upper left portion of this photo. No idea if this is flying airframe or a ground trainer or what, but it doesn't look good. More on Tyndall AFB's sad state here: https://t.co/JikiO65eny pic.twitter.com/GlvQ6hnJP7
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 12, 2018
F15 static display at Tyndall ☹️ pic.twitter.com/zc6l19fpsq
— Christine Lynch (@clynch504) October 11, 2018
