March 3, 2003
U.S. HELICOPTERS MAKE LANDINGS DUE TO FOG
On Saturday evening, March 1, two U.S. Air Force H-53 helicopters flying a routine training mission had to land in a field approximately 1.6 km west of Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase. The crews made the landings for safety reasons, due to the lack of visibility and dense fog at the airbase.
Three attempts were made to reach the airfield before the alternate landings were made. The aircraft landed where they found clear conditions for a safe landing. There were no injuries to the crews or local population.
The aircraft and the field were undamaged in the landings. Local civil and military officials were notified of the incident and assisted in securing the aircraft for the night.
The helicopters returned to the airbase in the early afternoon on Sunday, March 2, after the fog had lifted and the visibility cleared.