In 2002, U.S. Tried To Sneak F-117 Stealth Fighters Across Austria #shorts

On October 18, 2002, the Austrian government authorized the U.S. Air Force’s DC-10 commercial transport flight, which had its point of origin at Spangdahlem Air Force base in Germany, to travel through Austrian airspace. The Austrians first agreed, but once they learned that the “DC-10“ aircraft number had actually been assigned to a military aerial refueling aircraft, they began to have second thoughts. The Austrian Air Force dispatched two Saab 35 Draken fighter aircraft to conduct an investigation. The U.S. aircraft tried to turn away from its course after spotting the approaching jets, but the Drakens intercepted it and discovered it was a KC-10 Extender, a military tanker version of the DC-10. However, they were shocked to see two unauthorized F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters flying in a close formation beneath the wings of the large tanker. This photo, taken by the Saab 35 Drakens, was later used to file a diplomatic protest against the US. The F-117s were part of the military buildup that