Notably, the F-15, (with a crew of two), managed to land safely at a nearby airbase, despite having its right wing almost completely sheared off in the collision. The lifting body properties of the F-15, together with its overabundant engine thrust, allowed the pilot to achieve this unique feat.

Yes, one of the most remarkable feats in aviation history occurred on May 1, 1983, when an Israeli pilot named Zibi Nedivi successfully landed an F-15 Eagle after losing nearly its entire right wing in a mid-air collision during a training exercise. Following the collision, the aircraft entered a violent spiral, but Nedivi engaged the afterburners to increase speed, which provided enough lift from the fuselage and the remaining wing stub to regain control. He landed the jet at twice the normal landing speed—roughly 260 knots—to maintain lift, effectively using the aircraft's body as a "lifting body." Upon landing, the tailhook was ripped off, but the plane finally stopped just feet from the end of the runway. It was only after he exited the cockpit that Nedivi realized the extent of the damage; the right wing was gone from about two feet from the fuselage. This incident became a legendary case study for McDonnell Douglas, proving the incredible structural integrity and aerodynamic redundancy of the F-15 design.