An unusual incident involving a U.S. Air Force B-52H strategic bomber was captured on video and photographs during a flight over the Fort Worth airbase region in Texas.
The aircraft, serial number 60-0011 and belonging to Barksdale Air Force Base, experienced an unexpected deployment of its drag chute while still in flight—a system typically deployed only after landing to reduce braking distance.
The event occurred while the B-52H was flying over NAS JRB Fort Worth. The footage shows the bomber passing directly over the base before the crew jettisoned the drag chute, a procedure carried out to avoid further risk to the aircraft. After the chute was released, the plane safely returned to Barksdale Air Force Base, where it underwent inspection and recovery.
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In addition to the malfunction itself, what drew even more attention was the fact that the moment was captured on video and in two photographs, a rare occurrence. Situations like this are rarely witnessed during approach and even less so recorded by cameras.
According to reports, both the aircrew and base authorities acted professionally and followed the standard procedures for dealing with the abnormal condition, ensuring the safety of the flight and the surrounding area.
A B-52H from Barksdale AFB (60-0011) experienced a drag-chute malfunction earlier today, with the chute unexpectedly deploying mid-flight. Captured here in the video and two photos, the BUFF passed directly over NAS JRB Fort Worth before jettisoning the chute and proceeding back… pic.twitter.com/m4mBvd6d59
— Eric Kilpatrick (@KpAviationPhoto) December 11, 2025
Source and images: Eric Kilpatrick | X @KpAviationPhoto | Telegram AviaNews. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
