A plane snapped in half during an emergency landing caused by landing gear failure – but miraculously the pilot walked away unscathed.
Footage shows the twin-engine turboprop striking the runway hard in Poland, causing the nose section of the fuselage to dip sharply. The aircraft bounced before skidding several yards and eventually came to a halt, with dust and smoke rising into the air.
The incident happened at about 11am on June 19 after the landing gear failed to deploy during a test flight ahead of the Antidotum Airshow in Leszno. Fortunately no fire broke out when the North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco crash-landed.
View 3 ImagesThe aircraft snapped during the incident(Image: Jam Press/@kwpsppoznan)
The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the aircraft on his own. Paramedics later confirmed he was in good condition.
The airshow went ahead as planned. However, damage to the Aeroklub Leszczyński airfield runway reduced its usable length, meaning some aircraft were unable to perform.
The OV-10 Bronco was developed in the 1960s as a light attack aircraft for counter-insurgency operations, and was also widely used for forward air control missions. Around 360 were produced between 1965 and 1986.
A small number remain in service today, including with NASA and various civilian operators in the United States, while others are preserved in museums around the world.
View 3 ImagesThe landing gear failed to deploy during the test flight(Image: Jam Press/@kwpsppoznan)
The Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Poznań said: “Three fire service units operated at the scene. Firefighters secured the site and applied firefighting foam around the aircraft.
“This action was preventive and aimed at reducing the risk of fire in case of a possible fuel leak or spillage following the emergency landing.
“The situation is now under control and there is no danger to people present at the airfield. The circumstances of the incident will be investigated by the relevant authorities.”