Executive Summary
The past 24 hours featured several significant military aviation incidents, including the crash of an RAF Hawk T.2 trainer near RAF Valley and an ATAC-operated Hawker Hunter going down off the California coast. Heavy US strategic bomber activity was tracked across the southern United States, alongside extensive US Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol deployments globally. A complex USAF "Coronet East" fighter relocation from CENTCOM to Europe experienced numerous tanker maintenance issues, resulting in mission delays and aircraft diversions. Additionally, NATO and allied exercises like ARCTIC VANGUARD highlighted coordinated Arctic air operations, while a Russian Mi-8 briefly violated Polish airspace.
Key Events
- An RAF Hawk T.2 (ZK032, callsign VYT15) crashed shortly after takeoff from RAF Valley in Wales; both crew ejected safely after the aircraft squawked 7700 with a -2000ft/min descent rate. → link
- Multiple USAF B-52 and B-1B bomber flights were tracked departing bases in Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico for routine training and readiness postures. → link
- USAF "Coronet East" missions to redeploy F-15Es and F-35As from CENTCOM to Europe faced significant KC-135 tanker maintenance failures, resulting in fighter diversions to Greece and Italy. → link
- A Russian Mi-8 helicopter briefly violated Polish airspace near Braniewo for 42 seconds, prompting Polish air defense radars to track the incursion and scramble fighter jets. → link
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman teased a new high-speed, high-altitude X-Plane resembling the SR-71 Blackbird, signaling a return to cutting-edge flight research. → link
Analysis
The frequency of military aviation incidents and mechanical aborts over the last 24 hours highlights the strain on legacy airframes and tanker fleets under sustained operational tempos. The "Broken Coronets" saga across Europe underscores how dependent modern fighter movements are on a aging tanker fleet. The high volume of P-8 Poseidon flights across the US, UK, Canada, and India indicates continuous, global maritime ISR posture. Moving forward, OSINT monitors should watch for the resolution of the delayed Coronet East fighter crossings, the release of preliminary findings from the RAF Valley Hawk crash investigation, and any follow-up intercepts related to China's special mission flights in Japan's ADIZ.
Tweet Feed
Military Aviation Incidents
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-23T13:40
UPDATE: Hawk T.2 jet crash at RAF Valley - Both crew ejected - MoD confirms crash, will not provide further detail at this time but says investigation underway - 2x Air Ambulances and 1x Coastguard helicopter have now left the scene - @Andyyyyrrrr believes the jet was ZK032 #43C563 flying as "VYT15" - seen on ADSB squawking 7700 just after takeoff with vertical rate of -2000ft/min → tweet link
@Osinttechnical · 2026-09-23T14:02
Footage of a British RAF aircrew ejecting from their stricken Hawk trainer over Wales this morning. → tweet link
@TheAviationist · 2026-09-23T12:44
Hawker Hunter Formerly Known As ‘Miss Demeanour’ Crashes off California Hawker Hunter N345AX, operated by red air contractor ATAC but formerly a UK airshow star as G-PSST, went down a few miles off the California coast on Sep. 22. The pilot was rescued by a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter. → tweet link
@vcdgf555 · 2026-09-22T20:28
RT @DefenceGeek: A US Air Force F-16 reportedly crashed near Spangdahlem Airbase in Germany earlier today - currently unknown if it's a loc… → tweet link
Strategic Aviation & Bomber Movements
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T17:03
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 DRAGO52 [ B1 ] OFF Ground : Sweetwater Texas US → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T16:07
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 00000000 [ B52 ] OFF Ground : Shreveport Louisiana US → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T16:05
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 00000000 [ B52 ] OFF Ground : Roswell New Mexico US → tweet link
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-23T12:47
RT @HQUSAFEAFAF: The BONE over Czechia 🇺🇸✈️🇨🇿 B-1B Lancers took to the skies for #NATODays, showcasing U.S. airpower alongside our Allies… → tweet link
Fighter Deployments & Tanker Operations
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-23T11:28
UPDATE: Lots of Broken Coronets #IranWar Coronet East 106: Tanker "CLEAN31" delayed/cancelled, replacement KC-135T holding outside French airspace with 3x F-35A. Coronet East 117: Up to 12x F-15Es from 4th FW returning from CENTCOM, tankers "CLEAN51" and "CLEAN61" broken, jets diverting to Chania (LGSA). Coronet East 114: 2x F-16Cs attempting crossing to Lajes. → tweet link
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-23T17:06
RT @DefenceGeek: UPDATE: Coronet East 114 - Let's Try Again? #IranWar The "MN" F-16Cs that have now had to abandon two attempted crossin… → tweet link
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-23T10:50
UPDATE: F-15E "SJ" 4th FW returning home #IranWar "CLEAN52" has collected their F-15Es and is heading towards the UK! "CLEAN62" remains inbound towards Tel Aviv FIR → tweet link
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-23T17:24
RT @AUX_OSINT: Omega DC-10 Tanker dragging 5x "VAQ-132" EA-18G from Norfolk Naval Station (KNGU) back home to NAS Whidbey Island (KNUW). → tweet link
@TheAviationist · 2026-09-23T18:18
Canada’s First F-35 Conducts Maiden Flight The Royal Canadian Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II flew for the first time, marking a milestone in Canada’s controversial fighter acquisition program to replace the CF-188 Hornet fleet. → tweet link
ISR & Maritime Patrol Flights
@ArmchairAdml · 2026-09-23T09:28
USNavy United States Navy
Boeing P-8A Poseidon 1x
AE5F50 169567 - SHINER 31
SHINER 31 is departing RAF Mildenhall this morning for Gander. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T14:58
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 THNDR03 [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Lossiemouth GB UK-registered P8 aircraft, likely a Poseidon maritime patrol or reconnaissance platform, just took off from Lossiemouth. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T18:11
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 ASY197 [ P8 ] ON Ground : Fairfield California US Australian-registered military P-8 aircraft, likely engaged in maritime patrol, surveillance, or reconnaissance missions. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T16:36
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 [ NA ] [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Uthukkottai IN A military-configured P8 aircraft, likely a Poseidon Maritime Patrol or ISR platform, just took off near Uthukkottai, India. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T14:48
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 KAISER [ E3CF ] OFF Ground : Penaflor CL A UK-registered E3CF AWACS aircraft, callsign KAISER, just lifted off near Penaflor, Chile. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T16:42
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 VVBH304 [ P3 ] OFF Ground : Topsham Maine US The aircraft is a U.S.-registered military P-3 Orion operating near Topsham, Maine, likely performing maritime surveillance. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-23T17:19
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 UAV15 [ Q9 ] ON Ground : Adelanto California US UAV15, a US-registered General Atomics Aeronautical Systems drone, likely a MQ-9 Reaper, is currently on the ground near Adelanto, California. → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-23T14:58
✈️ RCH2021 SPOTTED RCH2021 87-0037 United States Air Mobility Command Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy #AE0582 MLAT → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-23T04:15
✈️ AIRCRAFT SPOTTED no callsign N291SR 2023 BOMBARDIER BD-700 Global 6000/6500 L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC, US ARMY… → tweet link
Airspace Incidents & Exercises
@GlobalOSINTHQ · 2026-09-23T12:54
A Russian Mi-8 helicopter from Kaliningrad entered Polish airspace near Braniewo, flying approximately 300 meters into Polish territory, for 42 seconds before returning to Kaliningrad. Fighter jets were scrambled. → tweet link
@sentdefender · 2026-09-23T00:01
NATO and NORAD forces, as a part of exercise ARCTIC VANGUARD, which took place across Greenland, Canada, and Iceland, joined Danish forces at Kangerlussuaq, Greenland for ground refueling operations. → tweet link
@vcdgf555 · 2026-09-22T23:46
DVIDS pic taken by Senior Airman Colin Perkins from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland Sept. 16, 2026. "United States F-16s, Danish F-35s and Canadian F18s" → tweet link
@TieDyeIntel · 2026-09-23T18:32
RT @JanesINTEL: Special Report: China conducts special mission aircraft flights in Japan ADIZ. → tweet link
Advanced Aviation & Space Defense
@TheAviationist · 2026-09-23T07:29
NASA Chief Teases Mysterious Aircraft as Agency Plans New X-Planes An unidentified aircraft resembling the SR-71 Blackbird appeared in Jared Isaacman’s All-In Summit presentation. Asked whether it was an SR-71, the NASA administrator cryptically replied: "You sure that's a Blackbird?". → tweet link
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-23T06:55
The Royal Air Force is today forming No. III Space Effects Squadron, the first British unit dedicated to disrupting, degrading and denying hostile activity in space. → tweet link
@TheAviationist · 2026-09-23T12:35
First Production KF-21 Boramae Delivered to ROKAF South Korea’s indigenous fighter program enters a new phase as the first series-production KF-21 joins the ROKAF. → tweet link
@Osinttechnical · 2026-09-23T06:44
Cockpit footage from a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum as it shoots down a Russian drone using an R-60M AAM. → tweet link
@GlobalOSINTHQ · 2026-09-23T13:47
Ansar Allah announced that it had shot down a Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Wing Loong II unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) over Mokha in southwestern Yemen. → tweet link