An Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II hit a bird while flying over Florida on Monday, which caused it to drop three training bombs.
The BDU-33 is a 25-pound training munition used to simulate the M1a-82 500-pound bomb. It is approximately 22 and a half inches long and is blue in color. Although the training munition is inert, it is equipped with a small pyrotechnic charge and should not be handled. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eugene Oliver/Released)
The 23d Wing Public Affairs Office released a press release on Monday detailing the incident, saying three BDU-33s, which are small non-explosive training munitions, were “inadvertently released” at around 1:15 p.m. during a routine training mission after the A-10 “suffered a bird strike.”
There were no injuries or reported damage, and the incident is under investigation. The A-10 is from the 23d Fighter Group.
“The exact location is unknown but the suspected area is located 54 miles southwest of Moody Air Force Base in the general vicinity of 2 kilometers west of Highway 129 near Suwannee Springs,” the statement said.
According to the public affairs office, “The BDU-33 is a 25-pound training munition used to simulate the M1a-82 500-pound bomb. It is approximately 22 and a half inches long and is blue in color. Although the training munition is inert, it is equipped with a small pyrotechnic charge and should not be handled.”
The BDU-33 is a 25-pound training munition used to simulate the M1a-82 500-pound bomb. It is approximately 22 and a half inches long and is blue in color. Although the training munition is inert, it is equipped with a small pyrotechnic charge and should not be handled. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eugene Oliver/Released)
The 23rd Wing noted that if anyone finds the munitions, “do not approach it, take note of the location, leave the area and keep others away. Then, contact the 23d Wing Command Post at (229) 257-3501 or your local authorities.”
