The plane suffered an impact when landing in Ushuaia and had cracks in the fuselage; technical study will define whether it will be restored
The (Brazilian Air Force) is carrying out a technical-financial study to assess whether it is economically viable to recover the KC-390 Millennium aircraft that suffered a hard landing — when the plane touches the ground with a greater impact than expected — in Ushuaia, Argentina, on September 12, 2025. The FAB said in a statement that the event is “under analysis” (read more below).
According to the magazine, the evaluation of the plane aims to determine the cost-benefit of the recovery. The affected aircraft is among the newest in the fleet, which makes the study “essential to define operational destiny” of the equipment.
The KC-390 Millennium is a multi-mission transport aircraft developed by Embraer Defense & Security and considered strategic for the FAB’s logistics operations. The unit cost is estimated at US$85 million (R$457 million). It can reach higher values when support, customizations and logistics packages are included.
The technical survey examines factors such as structural viability, repair cost, downtime and operational impact. The result will define the next steps regarding the future of the plane.
The specialized YouTube channel revealed details of the incident that caused damage to the aircraft registered FAB 2859. The aircraft was returning from an air cargo drop mission over the Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station, on King George Island.
Upon returning to Ushuaia, the plane landed with a strong tailwind, which caused a sudden landing on the runway and made the aircraft bounce.
Nobody was injured. The KC-390 performed other flights before returning to Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro.
CRITICAL CRACKS
According to the magazine, an Embraer technical team has already carried out an inspection and identified “critical cracks” at the junction of the fuselage and the wing, but assessed the structure as recoverable.
Of the FAB’s 8 planes of this model, 4 are operational.
Here is the full FAB note:
“The Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the Preparation Command (COMPREP), informs that an event that occurred with a KC-390 Millennium aircraft on 12/09, in the city of Ushuaia, in Argentina, is under analysis.
“At the time, the aircraft landed under strong wind conditions. The operation was completed safely and the aircraft returned to its headquarters uneventfully for the relevant assessments.”
