Two Air Force pilots escaped injury Thursday when they ejected from their training aircraft near San Antonio after cockpit indicators warned of a potential landing gear malfunction.
The airmen, participating in a training program at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, received alerts that the landing gear was unsafe and were advised to eject, according to a statement from the base. Both pilots were subsequently evaluated by medical staff on site.
“Two pilots successfully ejected from a T-6A Texan II assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing during a controlled bailout near Seguin, Texas,” the base release said.
The 12th Flying Training Wing is responsible for developing enlisted Air Force aviators and crew members through comprehensive flying instruction. Its curriculum includes training for combat systems officers, pilot instructors, and enlisted aviators.
Local authorities confirmed they responded to the incident. The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that they were at the scene of an “aircraft accident” alongside multiple agencies, emphasizing that there was no threat to the public. They also warned residents to expect a significant presence of law enforcement, military, fire, and EMS personnel in the area.
This incident adds to a series of recent military aviation mishaps, though ejections are a standard safety procedure when aircraft systems fail. The T-6A Texan II is a primary trainer used extensively by the Air Force and Navy.
The cause of the landing gear indication is under investigation, and the aircraft, valued in the millions, is considered a total loss. No civilian injuries or property damage have been reported.
For more on Texas-related defense and political developments, see coverage of a Texas congressman being targeted in a terror plot and the first screwworm case in US wildlife in Texas.
