KC-135 Stratotanker makes emergency landing at KI Sawyer

A Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker made what appears to be an emergency landing at KI Sawyer this evening after experiencing what some officials are calling a minor hydraulic issue.

Sawyer Airport Manager Duane DuRay says the plane, which is believed to have been en route from Milwaukee, made a call to Air Traffic Control notifying them of the proposed landing about 25 minutes before doing so. The three crew members on board touched down safely, shortly after, around 5:30 p.m.

DuRay isn’t sure, but he believes it is part of the Air National Guard’s touch and go training. He says that during the procedure, airmen land and almost immediately take off again. According to DuRay, the crew was already flying in the vicinity of Sawyer when it experienced the minor glitch, so they decided to use the former Air Force base because of its long runway.

There is no official word from the Air National Guard on exactly what happened. For now, the plane will sit on the runway overnight.