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Chinook loses landing gear after striking rock

The left front landing gear on a Chinook helicopter broke off upon landing during a combat operation in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, the Army announced Sunday.

There were no injuries reported during mechanical failure.

According to the release, the helicopter’s left front wheel struck a large rock, detaching the landing gear from the helicopter’s main body.

The Chinook’s aircrew, whose unit was not identified, was forced to immediately return to a coalition air base for a mechanical assessment and follow-up repairs.

Because of the rough terrain and damage sustained at the target landing site, the landing gear assembly was not recovered, the release said.

The cause of the incident is under review.

“The quick, decisive actions by the aircrew ensured the helicopter did not sustain further damage and returned to its home base without incident,” Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman Maj. Chris Belcher said in the release.