A C-5M Super Galaxy transport aircraft landed at Travis Air Force Base in California with its nose landing gear up Thursday evening.
None of the 11 reservist aircrew, who are members of the 349th Air Mobility Wing, were injured, base officials said in a Friday release. Spokeswoman Capt. Lyndsey Horn said that initial reports indicated the crew experienced hydraulics issues while trying to lower the landing gear, which caused them to have to conduct the emergency landing at about 7:45 p.m. local time. Emergency personnel immediately responded.
Horn said that initial report of a hydraulics problem could change as the safety investigation progresses. The possible hydraulic issue was first reported on the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page.
The C-5 was returning to Travis from a contingency mission to deliver equipment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which encompasses the Middle East and Afghanistan, Horn said. It is unclear whether the C-5 had also been transporting personnel in addition to the equipment.
The C-5 took off from the Colorado Springs Airport in Colorado for its flight to Travis.
Horn said Travis' maintenance crew is now working to get the C-5 off the runway, and could not say how extensive was any damage to the aircraft and runway. Travis said in the release that its runway is still operable.
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This is believed to be the first time this kind of a mishap has occurred at Travis, at least in recent memory, Horn said.
An investigation is now under way.
The Super Galaxy has a more than 222-foot wingspan and is the largest transport aircraft in the Air Force’s fleet.
A Super Galaxy previously had a similar nose gear-up landing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas in March 2018 after its nose gear failed.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
