On Tuesday, a tragic accident at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita County, Texas, claimed the life of an Air Force instructor pilot. Captain John Roberts was killed when the ejection seat of a T-6A Texan II airplane activated during ground operations, according to a spokesperson from Sheppard Air Force Base. Roberts was a part of the 80th Operations Support Squadron.
Colonel Mitchell J. Cok, the acting wing commander, expressed his condolences in a statement, "This is a devastating loss for Captain Robertson's family and loved ones, and for the entire 80th Flying Training Wing. Captain Robertson was a highly valued Airman and instructor pilot. Our deepest condolences go with all who knew and loved him."
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The first Air Force fatality of the year was reported eight weeks earlier. Staff Sgt. Charles A. Crumlett, 25, was fatally injured on March 15 while performing maintenance on an F-22 fighter jet at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, as reported by an Air Force spokesperson. Crumlett was a weapons lead crew chief with the 90th Fighter Generation Squadron at the base.
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Colonel Cok also acknowledged the efforts of those who attempted to save Roberts' life. "We are thankful for the M1 maintenance team who immediately provided life-sustaining care, and for the heroic efforts of the security forces, fire and medical personnel here on base and at United Regional Hospital. Their efforts allowed time for Captain Robertson's family to be at his side when he passed."
The Air Force Safety Investigation Board will conduct an investigation into the mishap, with findings to be released upon completion, as per a spokesperson from Sheppard Air Force Base.
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The T-6A Texan II airplane, which seats two, is the primary training aircraft for student pilots honing their flying skills. Sheppard Air Force Base, located near the Oklahoma border in Wichita Falls, houses the largest training wing in the Air Force.
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The Air Force Times reported that the number of fatal and costly aviation mishaps among Air Force personnel reached a five-year peak in 2023. Last year saw the destruction of 10 aircraft and the deaths of two individuals.
Among the fatalities was Stephanie Rodriguez-Cosme, a 32-year-old test engineer and contractor, who was struck by an MQ-9 airplane's propeller during ground testing. In another incident, a civilian employee of the Missile Defense Agency passed away after experiencing health issues while on a C-17 airplane.
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Maintenance-related mishaps frequently resulted in injuries to airmen. In total, the Air Force reported 75 major non-combat mishaps, an increase from 67 the previous year. More than 28% of these incidents occurred while the aircraft was grounded.
Of the 10 aircraft destroyed last year, six were unmanned and four were manned. Three out of the four pilots ejected safely, while the remaining pilot was hospitalized and discharged later the same day.
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