Latest news with #USAirForce
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
US Osprey makes emergency landing in Japan, officials say
TOKYO - -A U.S. CV-22 Osprey made what Japanese officials called an emergency landing Thursday at Hanamaki Airport in northeastern Japan, about 300 miles north of Tokyo. Airport officials say the tilt-rotor aircraft touched down safely after reporting a mechanical issue mid-flight. The U.S. Air Force said the craft made a "precautionary landing" during a flight from Misawa Air Base to its home base, Yokota Air Base. No injuries were reported. Operations for commercial flights continued as normal. Video from Japanese broadcaster NHK shows the aircraft taxiing to the apron where uniformed personnel could be seen on top of the aircraft, near the center, inspecting the aircraft. Japan's Defense Ministry says it has dispatched staff to the site and is in contact with U.S. forces. MORE: Pentagon to lift grounding order on V-22 Osprey, 3 months after deadly crash The landing came six days after another U.S. Osprey set down in Akita Prefecture for a safety inspection, according to Japanese officials. That aircraft remained on the ground for over seven hours. A U.S. military public affairs officer described the Thursday incident as a "precautionary landing." The V-22 Osprey has been involved in several incidents in recent years, including a crash off Yakushima, in southern Japan, in 2023 that killed eight and grounded the fleet for months. MORE: 4 US Marines killed in Osprey aircraft crash during training in Norway Cullen Drenkhahn, a 1st lieutenant serving as a public affairs advisor for the 353d Special Operations Wing Kadena AB, told ABC News, "I can confirm a U.S. CV-22 Osprey conducted a precautionary landing today at Iwate Hanamaki Airport at 9:45 a.m." "The landing was executed safely and in accordance with policies. An assessment is ongoing to gather additional information. No injuries or damages occurred. There were no interruptions to airport operations," Drenkhahn said. "The aircraft is assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing and was flying from Misawa Air Base to its home base, Yokota Air Base. He added, "No further information at this time. the safety of our pilots and aircrew, as well as the men and women of Japan is our foremost priority."
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
U.S. 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 per cent 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 two-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. Kathy Mccormack, The Associated Press
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
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.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated 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.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
DE&S Deca at MOD Sealand repairs critical aircraft parts
Those operations across Europe now benefit from faster, more cost-effective air system component repairs delivered through a collaboration with DE&S Deca at MOD Sealand. DE&S Deca has established itself as a forward repair hub for US Air Force capabilities in Europe. Components arrive at RAF Mildenhall before travelling to the North Wales facility for expert diagnosis, repair and reconditioning. Read more: Flintshire firm celebrates double success wins at trade exhibition The initiative enables critical components used in C-130 Hercules and KC135 Stratotanker aircraft to be repaired locally rather than shipped back to the United States. The project, named 'Atlantic Eagle', has two pathways. Pathway Atlantic refers to these component repairs and reconditioning of US Air Force aircraft parts, while Eagle relates to test program set (TPS) development including transportability between the UK MOD and US Air Force systems. To date, the collaboration has delivered successful proof-of-concept repairs of Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) System components and ARC164 radio transmitters. Read more: New tenant set to move into two of Island Green's former retail sites Ian Doughty, acting chief executive of DE&S Deca, said: "The Atlantic project represents a significant shift in military logistics, proving that regional expertise can deliver world-class results while strengthening international defence relationships. By keeping repairs in Europe, the US Air Force maintains higher aircraft availability rates while reducing operational costs." The project involved DE&S Deca colleagues working alongside US personnel, ensuring a collaborative approach in the development of repair capability as part of the transatlantic partnership. DE&S Deca apprentice Jimmy Stanley-Bratley working on the project. Two DE&S Deca apprentices, Jack Vaughn and Jimmy Stanley-Bratley, have been instrumental in the project, demonstrating how plans for the Government's growth agenda can create skilled opportunities in cutting-edge defence technology. Their work on complex radio system components and control units showcases the high-calibre expertise of colleagues working at the MOD site in Flintshire. Read more: New leaseholders step into bold new chapter after 16-months managing vibrant pub Jimmy Stanley-Bratley, DE&S Deca apprentice working on the project, said: "As a third-year apprentice recently joining the team, I was fortunate to be put on the Atlantic Eagle project. The opportunity has been fantastic and being trained up on the TACANs has helped develop my skillset. Meeting the US team was a great experience, especially getting to tap into their expertise and knowledge. It's great to be part of helping to further the connection between the UK MOD and US Department of Defense." Earlier this year, a US Air Force Sustainment Centre delegation made a trip to DE&S Deca at MOD Sealand to inspect the repaired components firsthand during a positive technical observation visit which confirmed DE&S Deca as a regional repair capability. Read more: New gastro pub and restaurant opens its doors in Wrexham Tiffany Williams, Atlantic Eagle action officer for the US Air Force Sustainment Center said: "Earlier this year, the US Air Force Sustainment Center conducted a site visit to DE&S Deca to assess repair capabilities for specific subassemblies to support the ongoing pilot program. By approving DE&S Deca's capability to conduct repairs at the subassembly level it now allows for repairs for pilot components to be accomplished at DE&S Deca without the need for AFSC support." Read more: Readers crown 'Best Barbers 2025' as title awarded to business in Wrexham This innovative approach to Defence partnerships demonstrates how UK expertise supports allied operations, while creating valuable skills development opportunities for British workers in strategic industries. DE&S Deca is now working with the AFSC to deliver its Global Enterprise Network for Universal Sustainment (GENUS) Forward Air Logistics Complex Operational Node (Falcon) in Europe. GENUS FALCON will subsume Atlantic activity, using lessons identified to expedite its implementation and plans to see DE&S Deca established as a regional repair hub for component repair in Europe for the US, and NATO allies and Defence partners.
