An A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on the runway after making an emergency landing March 25 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The A-10 touched down with its landing gear in the up position after declaring an in-flight emergency. The pilot was not harmed. The aircraft, assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., was participating in a Green Flag sortie out of Nellis AFB, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Brad White) EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II made an emergency landing here without its landing gear March 25.
The aircraft was participating in a Green Flag sortie out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
The plane, which had one person aboard, is assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga.
The pilot safely exited the aircraft unharmed and was evaluated by flight surgeons here before being released.
"Edwards (AFB) is uniquely suited to handle these kinds of in-flight emergencies," said base officials. "Not only do we have first responders who are well-prepared and equipped to work these incidents, (the base) has the benefit of an enormous lakebed, which can provide a soft landing for any aircraft in distress."
Although a lakebed landing was an option, the A-10 performed a landing on the base's primary landing strip, Runway 22, officials said.
A board of officers will investigate the incident.