This is a TAV-8B assigned to VMAT-203 in Cherry Point. They experienced hung landing gear (repeat gripe on that jet) and contacted base for troubleshooting.
At some point, the squadron let the MAG CO what was going on.
He directed that the pilot do a gear up vertical landing. It would crush the strakes and probably FOD the motor, but it’s better than cracking the frame. He directed the mattresses to be placed under the nose.
The mattresses suffered an un-contained failure and sent a shower of metal springs and coils through the engine turbine blades. The damage was limited to the engine (Fodded), and the strakes (crushed).
Expensive, but not the end of the world.
