Norway F-16 Pilot Mistakenly Fires Cannon at Control Tower

A Norwegian F-16 pilot participating in an exercise mistakenly hit a control tower with cannon fire, sparking an investigation. The tower was hit two years previously in a similar incident.

Some F-16s were involved in an exercise attacking simulated targets at Tarva island on April 13 when the control tower containing three people was hit, Norwegian Royal Air Force Maj. Stian Roen told CNN.

Authorities told Agence France-Presse that two F-16s were taking part in a mock attack at the time. AFP noted that the F-16's M61 Vulcan cannon is capable of firing up to 100 rounds a second.

AFP reported that "a hail of bullets" hit the tower, but didn't result in any injuries.

Roen said the incident "was a very close call," 

A similar incident happened in 2009 when an F-16 fired on and hit the same tower, Roen said.

AFP said that in 2014 a Dutch pilot accidentally fired on a control tower during a training exercise at the Vliehors range on Vliehors island, north of Amsterdam.

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