Vice Commander Loses Post After Jet Crash
ANCHORAGE — A 27-year Air Force veteran was removed as vice commander of the flying unit at Elmendorf Air Force Base and given a letter of reprimand for a jet crash that killed 24 crewmen.
Lt. Gen. Lawrence Boese on Thursday removed Col. Wayne Heskew, who also headed the base’s bird-hazard program.
Canada geese sucked into the two left-side engines brought the Airborne Warning and Control System jet down 43 seconds after takeoff Sept. 22, investigators ruled in January.
The Air Force took unspecified action against four other unidentified officers. Because the investigation found no criminal negligence, none of the officers faces a court-martial, Maj. Brad Peck said.
Factors contributing to the accident were the base’s failure to keep geese off the runway infield and an air traffic controller’s failure to tell the jet’s crew he spotted geese on the field before takeoff, the Air Force has said.
Boese cleared Master Sgt. John Edwin Leis, a senior air traffic controller, of wrongdoing.
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