Close call between a B-52 bomber and a commercial jet over North Dakota puts focus on small airports
Neither one of the pilots of the bomber or of the Delta Air Lines jet seemed to know the other plane was there before the airline pilot saw the B-52 looming in its path. The incident last Friday is still under investigation. But the Air Force has said the controller at the Minot airport didn't let the bomber's crew know about the airliner, and the SkyWest pilot flying the Delta flight told passengers he was surprised.
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Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Canada News.Net
Bangladesh declares day of mourning after deadly plane crash
DHAKA, Bangladesh: At least 27 people have been killed and over 170 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into the campus of a private school in Dhaka on July 21, in one of the capital's deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory. The F-7 BGI aircraft, a Chinese-built fighter used for training purposes, went down shortly after taking off from the A.K. Khandaker Air Base in Dhaka's Kurmitola neighborhood at 1:06 p.m. The jet crashed into Milestone School and College in the Uttara area, igniting a fire and causing extensive damage to a two-story school building. Officials confirmed the pilot was among the dead. Twenty deaths were initially reported, with seven more victims succumbing to their injuries overnight, according to a military spokesperson and local fire officials. Medical teams said that the condition of nearly two dozen victims remains critical. Of the 171 injured, most were students who were attending afternoon classes at the time. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as emergency responders rushed to evacuate children and school staff. Many of the wounded were transported to a specialized burn hospital in Dhaka, where a blood donation camp has been set up to support ongoing treatment efforts. Twenty bodies have so far been returned to families. Some of the victims were burned beyond recognition, and authorities may need to conduct DNA testing to confirm their identities. According to an official military statement, the jet experienced a "technical malfunction" shortly after takeoff. The pilot reportedly attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas before it struck the school compound. An Air Force investigation team has been formed to determine the exact cause of the crash. Milestone School and College, which serves approximately 2,000 students from elementary through 12th grade, is a leading private institution focused on academics, extracurricular activities, and global opportunities. The school has operated in Dhaka for more than two decades. Rafiqa Taha, a student not present at the time, told the Associated Press that classes were underway across several grades when the crash occurred. Local media have reported that many of the injured were inside classrooms or on the school grounds when the jet came down. The incident has shocked Dhaka, a city of more than 20 million residents. Interim national leader Muhammad Yunus expressed his condolences to the victims' families and promised a full investigation. "This is a heartbreaking tragedy," Yunus said, adding that every effort would be made to support survivors and determine accountability. In response to the disaster, the government declared a national day of mourning the day after the crash. Flags flew at half-staff across the country in honor of the victims. This crash is the deadliest involving a military aircraft in Dhaka in recent history. The last similar incident occurred in 2008 when another F-7 training jet crashed outside the capital, killing the pilot after he ejected due to a technical failure. As investigators begin to comb through the wreckage and eyewitness accounts, questions remain about the maintenance, safety protocols, and aging aircraft used by the Bangladeshi Air Force for training missions. For now, the country mourns the loss of lives, many of them young students, in what has become a national tragedy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X: "Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance."
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Air Force pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base
The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has paused the use of a handgun following the death of a Security Forces airman at a base in Wyoming. The use of the M18 pistol, a variant of another gun that has been the target of lawsuits over unintentional discharge allegations, was paused Monday 'until further notice' following the 'tragic incident' on Sunday at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, the command said in a statement. Security Forces combat arms airmen at all command bases 'will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns,' it said. The name of the active-duty airman, who was assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at the base, and details of what happened have not been released. The missile wing said it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the base or community. Security Forces specialists protect Air Force bases. The gun is made by New Hampshire-based manufacturer Sig Sauer, which is defending itself against multiple lawsuits alleging that its popular related gun, the P320 pistol, can go off without the trigger being pulled. Sig Sauer denies the claims, saying the P320 is safe and the problem is user error. It has prevailed in some cases. The P320 was adopted by the U.S. military as M17 and M18 pistols, and the M18 is now the official sidearm of all branches of the U.S. military, Sig Sauer says on its website. In 2019, Sig Sauer announced it had delivered its 100,000th M17 and M18s to the U.S. military. The pause is so far limited to the Global Strike Command, which includes more than 33,700 Airmen and civilians. The rest of the Air Force and the other armed services have not announced any orders to avoid using the pistols. 'Our hearts are with the service members and families impacted by the recent reported event at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base,' Sig Sauer said Wednesday in a statement posted on Facebook. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is in charge of the investigation. The command's statement says it collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces 'to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures.' Sig Sauer said it has offered to assist. The P320 was introduced in 2014. Sig Sauer offered a 'voluntary upgrade' in 2017 to reduce the weight of the trigger, among other features. Lawyers for people who have sued the gunmaker, many of them law enforcement officers, say the upgrade did not stop unintentional discharges. Earlier this year, Sig Sauer appealed a ban of the P320, M17 and M18 pistols by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, arguing that it appears to be based on inaccurate and incomplete information. The commission banned the weapons after a recruit said his P320 discharged while he was drawing it, even though his finger was not on the trigger. And just this month, Sig Sauer announced that the Michigan State Police is adopting the M18 as its primary sidearm. Several large multi-plaintiff cases have been filed since 2022 in New Hampshire's federal court, representing nearly 80 people who accuse Sig Sauer of negligence and defective product design and marketing. That's in addition to lawsuits filed in other states, including one in Pennsylvania last year alleging a wrongful death. They say the P320 design requires an external mechanical safety, a feature that is optional. The most recent New Hampshire case, representing 22 plaintiffs in 16 states, was filed in March. A judge heard arguments Monday on Sig Sauer's motions to dismiss the lawsuit or break it up and transfer it to districts where the plaintiffs live. There also was discussion of a 2-month-old law in New Hampshire, created in response to the lawsuits, that prohibits product liability claims against Sig Sauer and other gun makers based on the 'absence or presence' of the external safety and several other optional features. Claims can still be filed over manufacturing defects. The law hasn't yet been incorporated into the case.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Toronto Star
Close call between a B-52 bomber and a commercial jet over North Dakota puts focus on small airports
The evasive action an airline pilot took to avoid a B-52 bomber in the skies over North Dakota has focused attention on the way small airport towers are often run by private companies without their own radars. Neither one of the pilots of the bomber or of the Delta Air Lines jet seemed to know the other plane was there before the airline pilot saw the B-52 looming in its path. The incident last Friday is still under investigation. But the Air Force has said the controller at the Minot airport didn't let the bomber's crew know about the airliner, and the SkyWest pilot flying the Delta flight told passengers he was surprised.
