Part Lands Safely in School Parking Lot

A Boeing C-17 Globemaster III stationed at South Carolina’s Joint Base Charleston experienced an unusual malfunction mid-flight around 4:00 pm on September 12. Its tail cone mysteriously detached and landed in a school parking lot, fortunately without causing injury or property damage.

The affected aircraft is part of the 437th Airlift Wing. Officials from Joint Base Charleston have confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the malfunction.

Photos on social media show the detached component on the ground at Divine Redeemer School in Hanahan, South Carolina with some major dings. Joint Base Charleston was immediately made aware of the situation, and recovery teams were dispatched to collect the detached part.

“We can confirm that a tailcone from a C-17 Globemaster III landed in the Divine Redeemer Catholic School parking lot,” commented the Charleston Diocese. “Luckily, there were no students in that area at the time. The military arrived and removed it. The sergeants were apologetic and concerned about the school and our community's welfare.”

The part, an aft radome, was manufactured by General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (ATP). Though not a radar housing, it plays an essential role in the C-17’s aerodynamics. It helps to prevent airflow from interfering with the T-tail, ensuring that the control surfaces function effectively in critical stages of flight.

ATP is a Boeing subcontractor that has manufactured various other C-17 parts, including its winglets and flaps.

The Globemaster was able to land back at Joint Base Charleston shortly after the incident. Though the situation ended in the best-case scenario, the malfunction generates yet another headache for the mega manufacturer.

FMI: www.jbcharleston.jb.mil