Weather Forced Chinook To Touch Down In A Corn Field

The crew of a Connecticut National Guard Chinook helicopter on a ferry flight from Connecticut to Washington State for maintenance made a precautionary landing in an Iowa cornfield when they encountered some heavy weather.

File Photo

Faced with heavy rain and low vis, the crew set the helo down near the town on Keswick, about 50 miles southwest of Iowa City, on Sunday, where they were greeted warmly by some of the towns 550 residents who came out to see the helicopter in a cornfield.

Television station WVIT reports that local residents suggested a bite to eat at Teet & Toby's restaurant, but it happens to be closed on Sundays. Someone in the crowd reportedly loaned the crew a pickup truck for a supply run. They stayed overnight in a hotel in Sigorney, IA, waiting for the weather to improve.

It finally did on Monday morning, and the crew continued their flight on to Fort Lewis in Washington State. The helo is undergoing scheduled maintenance following a year of service in the Middle East.

FMI: www.ct.ngb.army.mil