Navy Cargo Plane Makes Belly-Landing At Norfolk

The crew of a US Navy C-2 Greyhound knew it was going to be a bad day just as soon as they departed NAS Norfolk Monday. Carrying 25 people, the aircraft suffered a gear failure that became apparent immediately. It was up to the crew to save themselves and their passengers.

In body, at least, Cmdr Hamlin Ortiz was with them. He's the commander of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 120 -- the man who dispatched the Greyhound on a training mission along with five other aircraft. All were heading to Pensacola, FL.

"I had many concerns, but no fear," he told the Virginia Pilot. "These are well-trained pilots with many hours of experience."

And those pilots got a couple of more hours' experience burning off fuel as they orbited the field, talking with other Navy pilots on the ground to figure out a way to get the gear working.

No dice.

"Our hearts were in the cockpit with them," Ortiz said. "But in the end, it’s just the pilot and the machine."

So at around 1930 EDT, the flight crew decided to put the Greyhound down on its belly. Never mind the pressure of having the entire base watching. The whole thing unfolded on national television.

In the end, it was a perfect example of grace under pressure. The flight crew performed flawlessly, Ortiz said.

"I’m the happiest man in Hampton Roads tonight," he said. "They did a fantastic job."

The cause of the gear malfunction is now under investigation.

FMI: www.navy.mil