Recently, the U.S. Navy issued an announcement that a “safety pause” was being set in place for all non-deployed aircraft this past Saturday in the wake of quite a few recent crashes of military aircraft in California.
This news was shared in order to give Naval Air Forces the needed time to go through the risks and add additional safety training, as read in a statement coming from officials with the U.S. Navy.
“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,” stated the recent news release.
“In order to maintain the readiness of our force, we must ensure the safety of our people remains one of our top priorities,” it went on. “Deployed units will conduct the safety pause at the earliest possible opportunity.”
All five of the U.S. Marines that were on board the military aircraft that crashed out in Southern California this past Wednesday died in the accident, as stated this past Thursday by officials with the Marine Corps.
This crash took place during a training mission with an MV-22B Osprey near Glamis, which is just a scant few miles north of the U.S.-Mexican border.
“We mourn the loss of our Marines in this tragic mishap. Our hearts go out to their families and friends as they cope with this tragedy,” stated the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Maj. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, in a recent release.
Hailing from Placer, California, Capt. John J. Sax, aged 33, was part of the group that was killed in the recent crash, he was the son of Steve Sax, a former star in Major League Baseball.
“It is with complete devastation that I announce that my precious son, Johnny was one of the five (5) US Marines that perished on Wednesday, June 8 in the Osprey Military crash near San Diego,” stated Sax. “For those of you that knew Johnny, you saw his huge smile, bright light, his love for his family, the Marines, the joy of flying airplanes and defending our country! He was my hero and the best man I know, there was no better person to defend our country.”
The other marines killed in the accident included Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire, and three tiltrotor crew chiefs: Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming, and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.
On the third of June, Navy Lt. Richard Bullock also passed away during a training mission out in Trona, California.
“Bullock was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., and was flying a routine training mission at the time before his aircraft when down in a remote, unpopulated area. No civilians were harmed as a result of this incident,” as stated in a recent report from the Navy.
“The incident is currently under investigation and the scene of the crash is secured by Navy and local authorities while recovery efforts are ongoing,” it concluded.
Additionally, four other U.S. Marines were killed in an Osprey helicopter crash as part of a NATO training mission this past March in Norway.