The Pentagon doesn’t even try to make its lies believable any more.
WTF - A landing gear malfunction????
Let’s review some basic aeronautics:
1. Landing gear is only engaged in take off and landings. If it was a malfunction it should have been known immediately or when they reached their destination.
2. If not noticed immediately (meaning they are locked in the down position), then the landing gear would not inhibit the normal function of the plane.
This is an obvious technological transfer to the Russians. A payback for?????