A Texas Army National Guard helicopter made an unplanned, soft landing Tuesday night outside of Houston -- maybe a little too soft.
The UH-64D landed in a muddy field in Wallisville, Texas, after experiencing "mechanical issues," the Texas Military Department said in a Thursday news release. No crew members were injured, but images from the site show the Apache sitting slightly askew, one side dipping into the earth.
A truck driver who witnessed the landing told KHOU-TV that the pilot "did an excellent job putting her down. It could have been a lot worse."
The crew was performing a routine training mission when the landing took place, according to the news release; a TANG spokeswoman could not immediately provide information on the Apache's unit. Initial reports suggest transmission trouble, but a full inspection is planned after the helicopter reaches solid ground.
A CH-47 Chinook from near Dallas was expected to lift the Apache out of the mud Thursday afternoon using a sling, per the release.
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
