Air Force C-17 Crashes Just 40 Seconds After Takeoff | TWO Dangerous Aerobatics (With Real Videos)

A Boeing B-52 strategic bomber of the United States Air Force crashes at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington while practicing for a flight display. 16 years later, a C-17 Globemaster III transport plane of the United States Air Force crashes at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska also while practicing for a flight display. Find out what really happened.

Get early access to future videos and support the channel here:

Check out the Official Shop with merchandise here:

Follow TheFlightChannel

Business Enquiries

This video has been recorded and edited in 4K resolution and 60FPS.

[tomrohan]

My instructor always used to say 2 things

1. Never manipulate your destiny
2. When you start enjoying playing with the limits or boundaries of a flight envelope or profile that when you should stop flying

And I follow dat advice to this very day

[williamwilson]

Worked with an Air Force Lt Colonel who knew the people involved in the doomed flight. He said the pilot had a bad reputation and no one wanted to fly with him.

Why the senior officers onboard allowed this to happen is mind boggling.

[MikeGervasi]

Hotshot officers and Air Shows. A deadly combination everytime.

[kenjhee]

It's even more tragic that friends and families of some of the crew watched the entire incident. For one crewmember it was their planned final flight before retirement from the Air Force.

[AloneInPineda]

I was age 4 when this happened. I still remember this to date. I remember the moment in the car as we were on the road and could see it, my mom driving screamed.
All the night terrors I had about it too..
Rest In Peace Flight Crew.

I miss Alaska, but not this..

[daletabat]

To quote Chuck Yeager: "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no bold, old pilots, "

[jonmyers]

These guys were flying those beastly planes like they were fighter jets. They just don't behave the same way when performing radical maneuvers.

[sixfrnt]

i don’t live far from fairchild afb and people still talk about the b-52 crash to this day. the crash happened before i was born but it absolutely breaks my heart. 100% negligence and irresponsibility.

[SedatedByLife]

When overconfidence and recklessness combine... So sad. RIP airmen. You were lost far too soon.

[MTisOnly]

Just imagine how it would have ended had Holland become an airline pilot with that attitude

[gabrielcayton]

For not having any voice-over while also using simulation reenactments (which sometimes come off poorly), this was very well done. It was very well integrated with the text explanations and actual video. Thank you.

[MrCrystalcranium]

The incident involving Holland has been long studied as the prototype for Air Force arrogance and chain of command indifference to rogue throttle jockeys. McGeehan was on the flight because he knew Holland was a danger to himself and anyone who flew with him but he failed to take action in time. Interesting McGeehan was the only crewmember to initiate an eject sequence (the overhead hatch above his ejection seat can be seen in the still photo taken just before impact) but he never got out of the plane. The C17 crash is frightening, not just because of the wanton disregard for performance limits and regulations, but because most of these pilots fly commercially when they finish their military service. Not exactly a comfort for the flying public.

[mred]

All those whining that this is not ‘new’ content: I will gladly watch and appreciate anything this author posts.

[lab]

7:21 Co-pilot McGeehan's escape hatch, jettisoned during his attempt to eject, is visible near the tip of the vertical stabilizer.

[MB-hcxw]

I remember these crashes. Both were completely avoidable, making them all the more frustrating and sad. Hopefully these will continue to be used as examples of what NOT to do.

[Blowinshiddup]

The Bud Holland case was subject of an article called "Darker Shades of Blue" and was featured in the RCAF's "Flight Comment" safety digest. What made it worst was how many younger pilots were PUNISHED for trying to emulate him while he got a pass.

[Achaseu]

My good friend worked on this plane at Fairchild. He rode with Bud Holland on several occasions to try and diagnose a problem that would only occur during flight, for example. Ken Huston was a good friend of his, as well. I brought up the crash at dinner once and he was shocked I knew of it. Pretty wild to find he was there.

[denniscasey]

The Air Force blames a pilot for their own inaction in removing him from the flight line knowing full well he violates rules and is cowboy.

[Flokipops]

I remember seing this footage a long time ago, scary one !
Can't imagine the feel of watching your own descent from the cockpit ...

[ballshippin]

Can't imagine the last things that must be going through someone's mind knowing that they'll be dead in a few seconds from now.