Chinook stuck in muddy field after precautionary landing
An RAF Chinook has been stuck in a muddy field for days after making a precautionary landing.
The helicopter, from 28 Squadron, landed in the field near Wantage on Tuesday following a mechanical issue.
RAF Benson in Oxfordshire said the aircraft “soon sank” into the ground, probably due to the extended period of wet weather recently.
Engineers were deployed to the site to assess the mechanical issue, which has now been fixed.
On Tuesday, a Chinook from 28 Squadron based at RAF Benson made a precautionary landing in a field near Wantage…
Posted by RAF Benson on Thursday, January 7, 2021
However, the extremely soft ground has made the recovery of the Chinook back to RAF Benson “very difficult”, the station said.
In a Facebook post, RAF Benson confirmed that a team of specialists was working to “safely extract” the Chinook from the mud.
“While it was hoped that it could simply be dug out and then flown home, the risk of damage to the aircraft from this course of action has been assessed as significant and alternative options are being explored, including potentially lifting it from the mud with a crane,” it said.
“We hope to have the aircraft home by the end of the week.
“We are extremely thankful to the landowners for their understanding and support during this work, particularly the kindness they’ve shown to our team guarding the aircraft during some very cold nights.”
