Pilot uninjured after performing a belly landing at Hill Air Force Base

The west gate of Hill Air Force Base is pictured on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. A pilot is uninjured after an in-flight emergency on Thursday forced the pilot to utilize a belly landing maneuver at Hill Air Force Base.

The west gate of Hill Air Force Base is pictured on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. A pilot is uninjured after an in-flight emergency on Thursday forced the pilot to utilize a belly landing maneuver at Hill Air Force Base. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)


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HILL AIR FORCE BASE — A pilot is uninjured after an in-flight emergency on Thursday forced the pilot to utilize a belly landing maneuver at Hill Air Force Base.

A belly landing, or gear-up landing, refers to an aircraft landing without its landing gear fully extended, causing the belly of the plane to absorb the landing.

Hill Air Force Base spokesman Thomas Mullen said the pilot was flying an F-5AT fighter jet belonging to private military contractor Tactical Air Support when the emergency occurred.

"The landing was uneventful, and the pilot is safe," Mullen said.

He added that Hill Air Force Base will remain closed for a "short period" to relocate the aircraft and assess the condition of the runway.

This story may be updated.

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Logan Stefanich is a reporter with KSL.com, covering southern Utah communities, education, business and tech news.

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