Morón Air Base in southern Spain, one of the United States military’s most important transit and logistics hubs for operations stretching from North America into Europe and the Middle East, remains closed days after a U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker aborted its takeoff and became disabled on the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the runway will remain unavailable for several more days as authorities assess damage and work to clear the aircraft, underscoring how a single incident can ripple across global military operations at a time of heightened regional tension.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the KC-46, operating under the callsign GOLD71, experienced an engine failure during takeoff from Morón. The crew initiated a rejected takeoff (RTO), engaging emergency braking procedures while the tanker was heavily loaded. The hard braking reportedly resulted in the blowout of eight tires and damage to the aircraft’s landing gear, leaving the jet stranded on the runway and forcing the immediate suspension of flight operations at the base.
Four days later, online flight trackers and spotter imagery indicate that the aircraft is still blocking the runway. The FAA initially issued a NOTAM on January 31 warning pilots of a disabled aircraft located on the runway approximately 1,935 feet from the Runway 02 threshold at the south end of the airfield. That notice is set to expire on February 7, but subsequent NOTAMs issued on Monday extended the disruption, stating that both the military and civilian runways at Morón would remain closed until at least February 6.
“AERODROME CAUTION: DISABLED AIRCRAFT LOCATED ON THE RUNWAY 1935 FT FROM RWY 02 THRESHOLD (SOUTH END),” the FAA notice read, highlighting the seriousness of the obstruction and the safety concerns involved in resuming operations.
According to Pepe Jiménez, a well-known aircraft spotter who captured video and photographs of the incident, the mishap unfolded during what should have been a routine departure. “It was a routine takeoff of a Pegasus KC-46 with an RTO due to engine failure, emergency braking sequence and everything that involves braking a loaded tanker,” Jiménez said. “AB Morón result blocked for days.”
Images taken by Jiménez in the aftermath show significant damage to the aircraft’s landing gear, with base emergency crews surrounding the jet and personnel clustered near the KC-46A’s starboard engine. Other photos show firefighting and response vehicles on the scene, suggesting that standard emergency procedures were followed swiftly after the aborted takeoff.
What remains unclear is the extent of the damage to Morón’s runway itself. High-energy rejected takeoffs can cause severe stress not only to an aircraft’s tires and brakes but also to the pavement, especially when rubber debris, heat buildup, or metal fragments are involved. U.S. Air Forces Central–U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and Air Mobility Command have been contacted for additional details, but no official assessment of runway damage has yet been released.
The closure has had immediate operational consequences. Jiménez told reporters that several aircraft currently at Morón have been unable to depart since the mishap. These include a KC-135 Stratotanker, another KC-46 Pegasus, a C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, and “the entire 11th Wing with Eurofighters from the Spanish Air Force,” which had been operating from the base.
Additional images shared by Jiménez show at least one C-17 Globemaster III parked alongside another KC-46 on the flight line. While the precise status of each aircraft could not be independently verified, the presence of these high-value assets highlights the scale of the disruption. Morón supports both U.S. and allied operations, and its temporary closure affects not only American logistics but also Spanish Air Force activities.
Morón Air Base occupies a uniquely strategic position. Located in Andalusia, it serves as a key staging point for aircraft, personnel, and equipment transiting from the continental United States to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Its long runway, extensive ramp space, aerial refueling infrastructure, and generally favorable weather make it ideal for supporting large-scale movements, especially those involving tankers and heavy transports.
At the time of the incident, GOLD71 was reportedly supporting a mission to move U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters to the Middle East. According to online flight tracking data, the F-35As involved were from the Vermont Air National Guard and had been operating in the Caribbean before beginning their eastward transit.
Those fighters had taken part in a recent U.S. operation linked to efforts to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, before being redirected toward Europe and onward to the Middle East. Following the KC-46 mishap at Morón, the F-35As were diverted to Naval Station Rota in Spain, roughly 50 miles southwest of Morón. Earlier reporting indicated that the jets had also landed at Lajes Field in Portugal and were possibly destined for Jordan, though the final timeline for their onward movement remains uncertain.
Further emphasizing Morón’s importance, a U.S. Navy F/A-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft departed the base and landed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on January 31. Like the F-35As, the Growler had previously been assigned to operations in the Caribbean before crossing the Atlantic.
It remains unclear whether the Growler departed before or after the KC-46 incident, but Jiménez captured images of at least one Growler on the ground at Morón around the same period. The deployment of Growlers, which provide critical electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses, suggests a broader U.S. effort to position advanced capabilities closer to the Middle East.
Morón is also no stranger to strategic bomber operations. The base routinely hosts temporary deployments of long-range bombers under the U.S. Air Force’s Bomber Task Force (BTF) concept. In November, B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana arrived at Morón as part of Bomber Task Force Europe 26-1, conducting training missions and demonstrating U.S. power projection capabilities across Europe and beyond.
In previous rotations, B-1B Lancer bombers from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas have also operated out of Morón, underscoring the base’s flexibility and capacity to support a wide range of aircraft types, from tankers and transports to frontline fighters and strategic bombers.
“Morón Air Base is a vital link in any operation moving east from the United States due to its strategic location close to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, its massive flight line, long runway, aircraft refueling systems and excellent weather,” the 465th Air Refueling Squadron, Morón’s host unit, has stated.
The timing of the runway closure is particularly sensitive. The United States is in the midst of reinforcing its posture in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility as tensions with Iran continue to rise. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Tehran to curb its nuclear ambitions, warning of potential military action should diplomacy fail.
This buildup has required a steady flow of cargo aircraft carrying equipment and personnel, as well as aerial refueling tankers to support long-range fighter and bomber deployments. Bases like Morón play a crucial role in enabling these movements, providing refueling, maintenance, and staging support at a critical geographic crossroads.
While the U.S. maintains other facilities in the region — including Rota, Aviano in Italy, and Ramstein in Germany — Morón’s closure illustrates how logistics networks, despite their redundancy, can still be vulnerable to single-point disruptions. Diverting aircraft, rerouting missions, and adjusting schedules all add complexity and time to already demanding operations.
Even as military movements continue, diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with Iran remain in flux. U.S. and Iranian officials were reportedly scheduled to meet for negotiations later in the week. However, Axios reported Tuesday morning that Iran is seeking to change the venue of the talks from Istanbul to Oman.
According to the report, Iranian officials also want the discussions to be held in a strictly bilateral format with the United States, rather than including several Arab and Muslim countries as observers. Whether these talks proceed as planned, or at all, could have significant implications for the pace and scale of U.S. military deployments in the region.
Should negotiations fail or collapse entirely, Trump retains a range of military options, even if the current force posture in the Middle East is not yet sufficient for a prolonged, high-intensity campaign. In such a scenario, the rapid movement of additional aircraft and support assets would become even more critical — and the availability of hubs like Morón would be essential.
The KC-46 mishap at Morón Air Base serves as a stark reminder that global military operations depend not only on strategy and diplomacy but also on the reliability of individual aircraft and infrastructure. A single engine failure, followed by a rejected takeoff, has temporarily sidelined one of the U.S. military’s most important transit points, stranding multiple aircraft and forcing planners to adapt on the fly.
As of now, there is no public timeline for when the disabled KC-46 will be removed or when Morón’s runway will fully reopen. Until then, U.S. and allied forces will continue to rely on alternative routes and bases to sustain their movements eastward.
Military officials are expected to provide further updates once runway inspections are complete and recovery operations progress. Until that happens, Morón’s closure will remain a notable bottleneck in an already complex and high-stakes logistical effort, unfolding against the backdrop of uncertain diplomacy and growing regional tension.
