The Marine Corps stated it will conduct a ‘safety pause’ of non-deployed flight operations after a series of crashes, a few of which were lethal, following a similar decision by the Navy.
Gen. Eric M. Smith, the assistant commandant of the Marines, noted and revealed the one-day time out that systems will take some time to “review best practices and focus on areas where we can improve in order to ensure our units remain capable, safe, and ready,” Maj. Jim Stenger, Headquarters Marine Corps spokesperson, stated in a declaration Monday.
A Navy pilot died June 3 after crashing an F/A -18 E Super Hornet fighter jet near an air station in Lemoore, California, according to a statement from Naval Air Force Public Affairs. Days later on, five Marines were killed when an MV-22B Osprey, coming from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was downed in a training mission near Glamis, California.
According to The Daily Mail, “The crash was confirmed by Naval Air Facility El Centro.
‘We can confirm that an aircraft belonging to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed near Glamis, CA,’ they stated on their Facebook page. ‘3rd MAW has units based in Miramar, Yuma, Pendleton and Twentynine Palms. Military and civilian first responders are on site.
‘Contrary to initial reports, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft. More information will be made available as we receive it.’
On June 9, a Navy helicopter crashed in the desert near the California-Arizona border. All 4 team members aboard the MH-60S Seahawk endured, and one was transferred to a health center for non-life-threatening injuries.
“All Marine Aircraft Wing units will conduct a one-day stand down, during which time they will review selected incidents, which occurred Department of Defense-wide, and study historical examples of completed investigations,” Stenger added. “Stand downs are not uncommon and are viewed as a responsible step to refresh and review best practices and procedures so our units remain capable, safe, and ready.”
Authorities are still examining the circumstances of each of the crashes.
“As a result of recent crashes involving U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, Commander, Naval Air Forces has directed all non-deployed Navy aviation units to conduct a safety pause on June 13 in order to review risk-management practices and conduct training on threat and error-management processes,” the commander of Naval Air Forces Public Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
