Two U.S. Air Force pilots safely ejected from a T-6A Texan II training aircraft near Seguin, Texas, on Thursday evening following a hard landing at an uncontrolled airfield. Both aviators consulted experts after receiving unsafe landing gear indications before executing a controlled bailout.
Pilots Eject Near Seguin After Landing Gear Warning
Assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing, the two pilots were flying a propeller-driven T-6A Texan II when they experienced trouble following a hard landing at an uncontrolled airfield near Seguin, located about 35 miles east of San Antonio. The training flight turned critical just before 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
According to updates from Joint Base San Antonio, the crew received dashboard indications warning that the aircraft’s landing gear was unsafe. Rather than attempt a risky touchdown on compromised gear, the aviators conferred with ground experts who advised them to abandon the plane.
After receiving unsafe landing gear indications, the pilots consulted with experts, who recommended the crew conduct a controlled bailout.
Sean Worrell, 12th Flying Training Wing spokesman, via San Antonio Express-News
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash zone, confirming that no members of the public faced any danger on the ground. The aircraft went down near Nockenut Road and Lynn Drive close to the Guadalupe-Wilson county line.
Investigators Examine the T-6A Trainer and Pilot Health
Local medical personnel immediately placed the aircrew under medical evaluation, though officials have not yet released details regarding whether either aviator sustained injuries or the precise nature of their medical checkups. Both pilots survived the ejection and were recovered safely from the field. Their names have been withheld by military authorities.
Investigators have launched a formal inquiry to determine the root cause of the unsafe landing gear indication. The T-6A Texan II, manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft as the military trainer version of the Beech/Pilatus PC-9 Mk II, relies on a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine delivering 1,100 horsepower.
The single-engine turboprop functions as the primary trainer for student aviators entering the United States Air Force and Navy. Constructed with a stepped-tandem cockpit configuration, the platform places instructors and trainees in positions where crew member roles can interchange during foundational instruction. Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph serves as the headquarters for the 12th Flying Training Wing, which operates under the Air Education and Training Command to shape future military pilots.
A previous T-6A incident on San Antonio’s North Side near Rolling Oaks Mall occurred when a fuel starvation event prompted a pilot to glide toward an open field to protect a nearby school.
Unresolved Questions After the Military Briefings
- The exact extent of any injuries sustained by the two pilots during the ejection or hard landing has not been disclosed.
- The identities of the pilot and instructor aboard the training aircraft remain unreleased.
- The precise mechanical or operational trigger behind the initial landing gear warning has not yet been determined, with the investigation ongoing.