A dramatic engine test at Fairbanks International Airport last summer left a 25-foot hole in the tarmac and debris flung across the ramp.

The damage totaled $147,044, underscoring the high stakes of keeping critical air assets mission-ready.

The incident involved a KC-46 tanker from the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 133rd Air Refueling Squadron, returning from Yokota Air Base in Japan, a route that crosses Alaska.

After performing aerial refueling operations, the crew reported "abnormal engine vibration indications" in both engines.

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A specialized maintenance team from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, arrived two days after the tanker, and the crew waited two more days for favorable weather to begin work on the engines. The investigation shows a disciplined effort to diagnose and fix vibration issues cited by the crew.

The president of the investigation board, Air Force Lt. Col Michael Raynor, wrote that the heat and high winds of the engine test caused the pavement to break free after 10 “high-power engine runs,” which maintenance crews ran to diagnose and fix vibration issues cited by the crew.

The plane’s pilots and aircrew were not present during the engine tests, and the report did not cite any errors by the maintenance team running the tests.

With each engine test, the report said, maintenance specialists ran both of the plane’s engines at up to 83% power for between 20 and 30 minutes. Even when testing a single engine, the report said, crews run both to avoid damaging the plane with unequal, or non-symmetric, force from only one side.

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At that power level — the same power level the jet uses during take-offs — the engines produce exhaust “approximately 1,170 degrees Fahrenheit. The high temperature of an operating engine can be felt more than one hundred feet behind the exhaust,” reads the report.

The repeated tests, investigators found, created “persistent high temperatures in combination with repeated high engine exhaust” that melted the sealant used on the asphalt.

During the tenth test, a slab of concrete approximately 25-feet by 25-feet lifted off from behind the plane’s right engine, tumbling backwards and shattering across an area roughly two-thirds of an acre behind the plane.

“After a comprehensive investigation into this mishap, I find by a preponderance of the evidence the cause of the mishap was persistent high temperatures in combination with repeated high engine exhaust from the [KC-46’s] right engine,” Raynor wrote.

“These conditions severely affected the sealant holding the asphalt together [which] ultimately failed, allowing the blocks to lift into the air and break apart upon impact with the ground.”

The mishap occurred near Fairbanks, a northern city that serves as a refueling hub for international flights between North America and Asia.

The airport’s history includes moments like a brief summit between then-President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, who met briefly at the airport during international trips, a reminder of the strategic importance of Alaska’s air corridors.

From a national leadership standpoint, this episode underscores the need for steadfast modernization and readiness.

President Trump would press for accountability and swift improvements in maintenance and inspection regimes, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would push a disciplined, results-oriented approach to keeping the force ready for any contingency.

The goal is simple: ensure that every refueling asset remains able to perform its mission when the nation calls.

Because Alaska sits at the edge of the continental system, robust oversight of engine testing, pavement resilience, and rapid repair capability matters beyond local dollars.

Therefore, the focus must be on preventing similar incidents through stronger protocols, better materials, and faster response times.

At the same time, the incident invites a broader conversation about how to align operations with a modern era of air power, ensuring the fleet can meet demanding routes with consistent reliability.

The event serves as a reminder that even routine tests can reveal vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

It also highlights the importance of leadership that prioritizes readiness, accountability, and resilience for America’s military aviation fleet.

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