Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy

Air Refueling is completely a visual or close formation procedure. The boom operator will signal or radio for the receiver to move into position. There are Pilot Director Indicators (PDIs) which tell the pilot if the receiver aircraft is high, low, fore or aft. These lights will only work if the boom operator gives commands to the pilot prior to a contact (perhaps to a pilot who is struggling) or they're automatic once a contact is initiated.

In my opinion, it appears both aircraft are at fault. The receiver failed to stabilize in the contact position. The receiver aircraft kept moving in and up. The boom operator made contact to the receiver while they weren't stabilized (still moving in and up). This caused either an inner limit or upper limit disconnect. Now the fun part. After the disconnect, the receiver moves down too fast. This causes (can't tell without more information like a flight data recorder) the tanker's autopilot to kick off and sent the tanker nose down. From what we see looking out the back, it appears the AWACS pitched up into the tanker ... this is probably not the case. So then the AWACS pilot pushes over really hard to keep from hitting the tail of the tanker. Also, we can't hear the radios, but it appears that neither aircraft called for an emergency breakaway, a procedure designed to quickly and safely separate the aircraft.