Unusual drag chute deployment caught on camera over Fort Worth.
A photographer in the Fort Worth area captured a rare and unusual incident on Dec. 11, 2025, involving a B-52H Stratofortress bomber from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The aircraft, serial 60-011, flying with the callsign LOBO 49, experienced an unexpected drag chute deployment while still airborne, an event seldom seen and even more rarely documented on camera.
According to photographer Eric Kilpatrick, who shared the video and two still images with The Aviationist, the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow – as the B-52 is nicknamed within the fighter pilot community) passed directly over NAS Fort Worth JRB Carswell, Texas, with the drag chute streaming behind the tail. Moments later, the crew jettisoned the chute before continuing back to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, where the bomber landed without further incident.
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
“It happened at around 13.06 with them officially dropping the chute around 13.09. It was runway 18 they ended up just flying low over the runway asking tower if it was still attached and then when it was confirmed they asked to drop it and to be able to head back to Barksdale AFB. He didn’t declare an emergency,” Kilpatrick told us, recounting the incident he witnessed.
The images show the B-52 with the chute trailing behind the empennage. This is a highly unusual sight for an aircraft in flight and one that even seasoned observers rarely get the chance to witness, let alone capture with this level of clarity.
Accidental mid air chute deployments on the B-52 fleet are extremely uncommon. The drag chute is normally used only after landing to shorten the rollout distance, particularly on wet or icy runways. When it deploys unexpectedly in flight, the additional drag can affect handling, airspeed and fuel consumption. Crews train for such abnormalities and follow established procedures to ensure safe recovery.
Interestingly, there are some much lighter tactical jets that can deploy the drag chute shortly before touch down, one of the techniques used to land on a damaged runway sometimes displayed by Soviet types during airshows: for instance, the Su-22 Fitter deployed the chute about 7 feet above the runway shortening the landing roll to only 350 meters. Needless to say, the one of the B-52 was obviously an accidental deployment.
Witnesses in the Fort Worth area reported no signs of distress as the aircraft crossed the field. LOBO 49 appeared fully under control as the crew navigated away from the area and prepared for the return leg. Both the unit and the aircrew handled the situation professionally, as expected from bomber crews with extensive experience managing abnormal conditions.
DOH! pic.twitter.com/oqDD3JxyCU
— Dan McClinton (@DanMcClinton1) December 12, 2025
The event occurred while the B-52 fleet is undergoing one of the most comprehensive modernization efforts in its history. As we reported yesterday, a B-52H equipped with the new AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar recently arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where it will begin a series of ground and flight tests in 2026. The radar upgrade replaces the legacy mechanically scanned system with a modern AESA sensor that provides better range, resolution and resistance to countermeasures. The radar program is part of a broader modernization effort that includes new engines, updated avionics and improved communications systems. These upgrades are intended to keep the Stratofortress operational through the 2050s and ensure that the platform remains relevant in future contested environments.
H/T to Eric Kilpatrick for allowing us to share his video and photos. Make sure to check out his Instagram account at @kpaviationphotography or his X account here for more aviation content.
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