Late Wednesday night, a FedEx Boeing 757 freighter conducted a remarkable no-gear landing at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in Tennessee (KCHA). Despite the challenging circumstances, the three-person crew successfully evacuated the aircraft without injury. After skidding down the runway and coming to a rest on a grass overrun, the aircraft did not catch fire, ensuring the safety of all involved.
FedEx issued an official statement, indicating that "FedEx Express Flight 1376 from Chattanooga to Memphis experienced an issue just after takeoff on Wednesday evening. Our crew is safe, and any additional questions should be referred to the NTSB."
Radio traffic recordings with Chattanooga Approach Control revealed that the Flight 1376 crew initially reported a "flight control issue" shortly after takeoff and announced their intention to return to the airport. They did not declare an emergency at that time. However, during an ILS approach to Runway 20, they reported an unsafe gear indication and had to abort the approach. The crew later declared an emergency when they determined that they could not taxi clear of the runway upon landing due to a lack of steering capability, indicating their need for a tug to retrieve the aircraft.
During this time, the crew revealed that they were activating an "alternate gear extension," which involves a separate battery-operated hydraulic power pack, suggesting an issue with the main hydraulic system. As the aircraft prepared for a no-gear landing, ground observers confirmed that they could not see the gear extended. Chattanooga Airport's air traffic control assured the crew that emergency vehicles would be standing by.
Following the successful but dramatic landing, the airport remained closed for several hours. The aircraft came to a halt on airport property, and fortunately, there were no injuries sustained by the crew or anyone on the ground.