Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach presented the 2025 Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy to Cloninger at the Pentagon on Sept. 8. Cloninger is assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
The emergency occurred on Sept. 18, 2024, during a deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Cloninger was flying second in a four-aircraft formation conducting a memorial flyover for the anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The F-22’s entire right main wheel assembly separated from the aircraft immediately after takeoff. Cloninger and his flight leader canceled the mission and remained close to the airfield while determining the extent of the damage.
After the two aircraft rejoined, Cloninger took responsibility for navigation and communications. He slowed below landing-gear speed and lowered the gear, allowing his flight leader to confirm that the wheel assembly was missing.
There was no established written procedure for that specific emergency. Cloninger used crew resource management to select the landing-with-gear-up checklist, avoiding an asymmetric landing that carried a risk of aircraft loss, injury or death.
He remained airborne for about an hour to burn excess fuel while coordinating with the tower, emergency responders and the operations supervisor. Cloninger then conducted a low approach using the emergency alternate-flap flight-control setting.
For the final landing, he flew a shallow approach at the calculated speed and touched down on the runway centerline. The aircraft did not catch fire, allowing Cloninger to shut down both engines and complete an emergency exit.
The F-22 was returned to flying condition after diagnostic work and flown out of the theater. The Air Force described it as an unprecedented recovery for an F-22 after a belly landing.
“Wax [Capt. Michael Cloninger], today we recognize your extraordinary airmanship,” Wilsbach said. “You faced an emergency you could not see with no warning from your aircraft, while carrying a full combat load thousands of miles from home.”
“You remained disciplined,” Wilsbach said. “You trusted your training, listened to your teammates, and made sound decisions.”
“When it was time to land, you flew the aircraft all the way through the emergency,” Wilsbach said. “That is what we expect from American Airmen.”
Cloninger credited his wingmen and support personnel on the ground with helping him survive and recover the fighter. “Without my teammates assisting with communication and walking through the checklists, I truly believe I wouldn’t be standing here today,” he said.
The Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy recognizes aircrew members whose skill, alertness or judgment prevents an accident or limits its consequences. It is the Air Force’s most prestigious flight-safety award and the only one presented by the chief of staff.
The trophy honors 1st Lt. Koren Kolligian Jr., whose T-33 disappeared off the California coast on Sept. 14, 1955. He was subsequently declared missing in the line of duty.
