Update: Several people who say they witnessed the landing have disputed MCFRS’s description of a “hard landing,” describing it as smooth and praising the pilot’s handling of the situation.
A small twin-engine aircraft made a hard landing without its front landing gear at Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg Monday evening, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) spokesperson Pete Piringer.
Piringer reported no fire or serious injuries. The two people aboard the aircraft are being evaluated, and the airpark remains closed to air traffic with MCFRS crews on scene.
Emergency crews initially responded to reports of an incoming aircraft experiencing an issue with its nose landing gear. According to MCFRS spokesperson David Pazos, the plane circled the airpark to burn off fuel before making its final approach. The airfield was closed to other aircraft as crews prepared for the landing.
Update @MontgomeryCoMD Airpark – small twin engine aircraft has landed ‘hard’ w/o front landing gear, no fire, no serious injuries, 2persons on board being evaluated, Montgomery Airpark is CLOSED to air traffic, @mcfrs on scene https://t.co/Fbn21j7seb pic.twitter.com/JWuIbYBYIa
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) September 7, 2026
