Latest news with #AirForceGlobalStrikeCommand
CNN
3 days ago
- CNN
Airman charged in fatal firearm incident at Wyoming Air Force Base
A US airman has been charged with obstruction of justice and involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal firearm discharge at an Air Force base in July, which resulted in the death of a 21-year-old service member. The on-duty incident, which killed Airman Brayden Lovan, occurred in the early morning hours of July 20 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Few details have been provided about the firearm discharge, though the Air Force said at the time that it was under investigation and out of abundance of caution security forces were conducting '100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify immediate safety concerns.' An Air Force spokesperson said in a statement on Friday that the investigation 'has progressed and an individual has now been arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter.' 'As with all individuals accused of a crime, the person arrested in this case is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,' the spokesperson said. 'The investigation in this case is ongoing and further details are not available.' As a result of the incident, Air Force Global Strike Command ordered a pause of using the M18 handgun — manufactured by Sig Sauer — until further notice. 'Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the AFGSC Safety office,' Air Force Global Strike Command said in a release in July. 'During this period, Security Forces Airmen will be equipped with the M4 rifle, ensuring no lapse in AFGSC's security posture.' Sig Sauer said in a statement that the company 'proactively offered assistance' to the military as they investigate, and 'remain willing to help in furtherance of their ongoing inquiry.' Lovan entered active duty in November 2023, and had been serving at F.E. Warren Air Force Base for his first assignment with the 90th Security Forces Squadron since May 2024. The commander of the 90th Security Forces Group, Col. Jeremy Sheppard, called Lovan a 'valued defender, teammate and friend.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Report: Landing Gear Mishap Caused B-2 Bomber to Crash, Catch on Fire in 2022 Incident
An Air Force B-2 Spirit crash at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, in 2022 that caused upward of $300 million worth of damage was due to a landing gear issue, a new accident investigation details. The B-2 stealth bomber, call sign DEATH 12, attempted to land on Dec. 10, 2022, after a training mission and experienced a hydraulic system failure when trying to land, resulting in the bomber skidding more than 9,000 feet down a runway before it burst into flames. Once the crew touched down, the left landing gear "collapsed immediately," causing the left wing tip to scrape the ground and eventually the fuel tanks to leak and catch fire, the report from Air Force Global Strike Command, released this week, detailed. No injuries were reported to the crew. "Following the incident, AFGSC temporarily suspended B-2A flights to inspect the fleet," a news release from the command said, clarifying that it still maintained the ability to deploy B-2s if needed. "Full flight operations resumed on May 22, 2023." Read Next: VA to End Bargaining Agreement Contracts with Most Unions The July report finally details the circumstances behind the high-profile 2022 crash of the B-2 at the Missouri base that led to the closure of the runway for nearly two weeks and limited the stealth bomber's full flight operations for more than five months. previously reported that it took 11 days for the runway to reopen for A-10 Thunderbolt II and T-38 Talon flying operations at Whiteman. The B-2s were temporarily grounded for a safety investigation in the wake of the crash. B-2 bombers had been set to fly out for the 2023 Rose Bowl Parade and Game on Jan. 2, but were replaced by B-1B Lancers as a result of the incident. More than $300 million worth of damage was estimated to the crashed plane's left wing and left landing gear, as well as $27,500 worth of damage to the airfield, the report detailed. The Accident Investigation Board President, Col. Jesse Lamarand, determined that "the mishap was caused by a failure of a truck position sequence valve hydraulic coupling," according to a news release that included the report. Additionally, Lamarand said in the report that a design vulnerability with the main landing gear allowed the lock link assembly to move out of the locked position during the emergency gear extension. The report also identified a delay in using aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, to fight the fire as another cause of the extensive damage. "The incident commander's decision to not immediately use aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) allowed the fire to spread, causing further damage to the aircraft wing," the report detailed. AFFF was not authorized to be used for "approximately the first three minutes and 28 seconds of the fire attack because of a misunderstanding that AFFF should be used only as a last resort," the report added. Aqueous film forming foam has been slowly phased out by several of the military services, including the Air Force, due to it containing PFAS, a group of substances known as forever chemicals because of their resistance to breaking down in the environment and human body. Related: Air Force Finally Clears Crashed B-2 from Runway Amid Ongoing Safety Investigation
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Sig Sauer pistol still in wide use across military after airman's death
The Army, Navy and Marine Corps are not planning to pause use of the M18 pistol as a primary, daily service sidearm for their troops, the services told Task & Purpose, even as units in the Air Force pull the weapon from service after an airman was killed when his M18 discharged last week. The M18 pistol is produced by Sig Sauer as a military version of the company's P320, a model that has drawn lawsuits and attention in recent years after incidents where users alleged that the gun fired on its own. In military usage, a law enforcement training agency in Washington recently chronicled at least six possible unintentional discharges on or associated with military bases involving the M18 or M17, a slightly larger version of the handgun. Concerns about the handgun were heightened last week when Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was killed when his M18 discharged at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, according to Air Force officials. The circumstances around how the weapon fired are under investigation. Lovan was a security forces airman assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron, a role that required him to regularly carry a sidearm. In the wake of Lovan's death, officials with Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees most units at F.E. Warren, temporarily paused use of the M18 across the command, pending an investigation for 'immediate safety concerns.' Since that announcement, several units under Air Combat Command, the service's largest major component, have also stopped using the M18, though not the entire command. The Air Combat Command pause was first reported by The War Zone. Charles Hoffman, spokesperson for the Air Force Global Strike Command's safety office, told Task & Purpose that during the pause, Air Force security forces will carry the M4 rifle. Global Strike Command has just over 27,000 active duty airmen — less than 9% of the entire active duty Air Force — but duty weapons are relatively common in its units. The command oversees all of the service's nuclear weapons and the missiles and bombers tasked with delivering them. As such, armed personnel are a constant presence on Global Strike Command installations, and the command is infamous for its intense focus on security and safety issues. 'Sig has offered and will continue to offer any and all assistance necessary to the USAF's investigation of the F.E. Warren incident,' Phil Strader, vice president of consumer affairs for Sig Sauer, told Task & Purpose in a statement. Design used in all military branches The M17, a full-size variant of the pistol, and the M18, a compact version, have been the military's standard pistols issued to active and reserve troops for most of this decade, replacing the legacy M9 used since the 1980s. The two guns share firing components and vary mainly by the length of the barrel. The Air Force announced in 2020 that all of its combat arms units would receive the M18, citing a 'more consistent trigger pull' and adjustable grips for different hand sizes. The Air Force owns close to 75% of the military's inventory of roughly 165,000 M18 pistols, according to data provided by the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and procurement documents from the Navy. Exact numbers of M17s currently in use were not immediately available. The Army and Marine Corps indicated in testing and evaluation documents that they intended to buy several hundred thousand of the handguns. A January 2017 contract announcement included a $580 million contract with Sig Sauer to replace the Army's M9 by 2027. Officials from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps told Task & Purpose that those services have no plans to pause use of the weapons. 'We have not seen any evidence that indicates design or manufacturing issues are present,' Meghan Stoltzfus, a Marine Corps spokesperson, said in a statement to Task & Purpose. She added that the M18 was 'rigorously tested' to Department of Defense standards and 'subject to extensive lot acceptance testing' with oversight by the Defense Contract Management Agency, Army and Marine Corps. Discharge issue discovered during Army testing The Department of Defense discovered unexpected discharge issues with the Sig Sauer handgun when the Army began operational testing for the M18 almost a decade ago. The service found that during drop testing with an empty primed cartridge inserted, the gun's striker struck the round's primer and caused a discharge. Army officials directed the company to correct the problem by implementing lightweight components in the trigger mechanism, according to a fiscal year 2017 operational test and evaluation report. Follow-on testing 'validated' that the change 'corrected the deficiency and the pistol no longer fired when dropped,' the report stated, adding that the new version with the changes was submitted for production. Sig Sauer conceded the early issues with the Army pistol, noting that testing 'above and beyond' national, state, global military and law enforcement standards found that 'after multiple drops, at certain angles and conditions, a potential discharge of the firearm may result when dropped.' Strader said the M17 and M18 pistols are required to be equipped with a manual thumb safety, which is an option for commercial P320s. 'With that said, regarding the lawsuits around this platform, no one, including our engineers and the plaintiff's experts, have been able to replicate or prove a P320 can be fired by any method besides a trigger pull,' Strader said. Lawsuits and law enforcement inquiries The civilian version of the M18, the P320, has seen issues pop up in recent years, some of which have led to multi-million dollar lawsuits and decisions by local police departments to stop using the pistol. In November 2024, a Philadelphia jury awarded an Army veteran $11 million after his holstered Sig Sauer pistol went off while he was going down the stairs and caused a serious leg injury. In June, Sig Sauer filed a lawsuit in Washington asking a state judge to reverse the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission's decision to ban police recruits from carrying the P320. The commission's working group of local law enforcement, training staff, and firearms instructors released a report in February on their decision to temporarily ban its use by police recruits. Top Stories This Week Culture Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up By Jeff Schogol Culture An Army pilot and mechanic switched units for a week. Here's how that went. An Army pilot and mechanic switched units for a week. Here's how that went. By Patty Nieberg News Air Force Global Strike Command suspends use of M18 pistol after airman's death Air Force Global Strike Command suspends use of M18 pistol after airman's death By Jeff Schogol In their report, the Washington commission cited six incidents since 2021 with 'uncommanded' discharges involving the M17 and M18. The M18 incidents were: In 2023, a Japanese security guard at Camp Foster, Okinawa, 'rested their right hand lightly on the rotating cover of a weapon holster' when their M18 discharged. Also in 2023, at Camp Pendleton, California, an officer in the armory stopped at a clearing barrel to empty their M18. The officer pulled the pistol out of the holster while it was on safe and removed the magazine. A round discharged from the M18 into the clearing barrel. The officer was 'sure that they never touched the trigger of the M18,' and had 'ample weapons handling training,' according to the report. In 2022, a service member was preparing for his shift at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, when his M18 discharged at his home. He was taken to the hospital for a penetrating gunshot wound with the bullet still 'lodged in his knee,' according to the incident report. With the M17, previous incidents included: A military police soldier at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in 2023 injured his foot after his pistol 'inadvertently discharged' after making contact with another officer's gun holster. The gun of an Army civilian attending a law enforcement course in 2020 at Leesville Police Range in Louisiana discharged while he drew the pistol from his holster. A service member attempting to holster his pistol in 2021 fired a round through his foot at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Sig Sauer announced in 2020 it would offer free P320 upgrades that 'improve its safety, reliability and overall performance.' The changes reduced the weight of the gun's trigger, sear, and striker and added a mechanical disconnector, according to Sig Sauer's website on the program. The company states that 'minimal reported drop-related P320 incidents have occurred' in U.S. commercial and law enforcement markets in situations 'that appear to be outside of normal testing protocols.'
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Sig Sauer pushes back on criticisms over safety of M17 and M18 pistols
Sig Sauer, which makes the M17 and M18 pistols used by the U.S. military, issued a response after facing criticism over concerns about their sidearms after an airman was killed when his M18 discharged. Following the airman's death, units within two Air Force commands ordered a pause on the use of the sidearm.. Both the M17 and M18 are military versions of Sig Sauer's P-320 series pistols. For years, users have claimed that the pistol can fire without the trigger being pulled — a problem that came up when the weapons were being tested for military use, according to a 2020 Defense Department report. On Tuesday, Sig Sauer issued a statement disputing claims that P320 pistols are prone to firing accidentally without the user pulling the trigger, known as 'uncommanded' discharges. 'The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstances, discharge without the trigger first being moved to the rear,' the company's statement says. 'This has been verified through exhaustive testing by SIG SAUER engineers, the U.S. Military, several major federal and state law enforcement agencies, and independent laboratories.' The company's statement comes after the head of Air Force Global Strike Command suspended the use of the M18 until further notice earlier this month pending the outcomes of investigations into the July death of Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, who was assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, Additionally, some Air Combat Command units have also stopped using the M18, although the command as a whole has not suspended the pistol's use. Still, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps continue to use the M18 and the larger M17 variant as the primary sidearms for service members. Top Stories This Week Culture Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up By Jeff Schogol Tech & Tactics 'Brutality over precision' — What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine 'Brutality over precision' — What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine By Kyle Gunn News South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves By Patty Nieberg In its statement, Sig Sauer described Lovan's death as a 'tragic incident,' adding that Air Force Global Strike Command's pause on using the M18 for training and operations is 'standard procedure.' The company also claimed that the P320 design has been 'thoroughly tested and validated' by the U.S. military along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Nevertheless, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission has permanently banned using the P320 at training facilities following an incident in October, in which a recruit's pistol apparently fired without the trigger being pulled. In February, the commission issued a report on the incident that found six examples of uncommanded discharges involving M17 and M18 pistols at military bases since 2021. In one such incident, a service member was cleared of negligence due in part to 'clear and convincing video capturing the event,' the report found. In June, Sig Sauer filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to overturn the commission's ban on P320 pistols. Solve the daily Crossword
UPI
24-07-2025
- UPI
Airforce pauses use of M18 pistol after deadly incident
Air Force Global Strike Command prompts limiting the usage of M18, manufactured by Sig Sauer, after a deadly incident on Sunday at a Wyoming Air Force Base. File Photo by David Becker/UPI | License Photo July 24 (UPI) -- Air Force Global Strike Command limited the usage of M18 after a deadly incident on Sunday at a Wyoming Air Force Base. On Monday, the Air Force issued a "stand down" of the weapon until all bases can do inspections of the M18s. Officials said, personnel will use the M4 rifle instead. "We want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the weapon," said an Air Force official. A service member, who has not yet been identified, was killed Sunday after their sidearm discharged, Air Force officials said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Safety office," said Charles "Moose" Hoffman, the command's spokesman. Hoffman said it's still not clear if his death was a result of an uncommanded discharge, a negligent discharge or a criminal act. Sig Sauer manufacturer of the M18 in recent years and has had 77 lawsuits over alleged "uncommanded discharges."
