Two U.S. Air Force Pilots Eject From T-6A Texan II Near Seguin, Texas, After Landing Gear Warning
Why It MattersThe ejection of a primary trainer over a landing gear problem puts a spotlight on the Texan II, the aircraft that anchors Air Force and Navy flight training pipelines.
Two U.S. Air Force pilots ejected safely from a T-6A Texan II near Seguin, Texas, on Thursday evening after receiving unsafe landing gear indications. The incident occurred at about 5:51 p.m. local time and followed a hard landing at an uncontrolled airfield, according to a statement from Joint Base San Antonio.
The pilots were assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. After the warning, they consulted with experts, who recommended a controlled bailout. Both pilots were subsequently evaluated by local medical personnel. Officials did not immediately disclose their conditions or the circumstances of the hard landing.
The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat turboprop used for primary flight training by the Air Force and Navy. It is powered by a 1,100-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 engine and has tandem seating, digital avionics and ejection seats. A similar landing gear problem led to the ejection of two pilots from a Canadian CT-156 Harvard II, a variant of the Texan II, in 2014.
