CNN - By Ryan Browne - June 20
"Washington (CNN) A rash of recent military crashes has cost the lives of several service members as well as billions of dollars worth of damages. The wave of accidents has raised questions about the training of pilots and the maintenance of aircraft, with top brass pointing to slashed budgets and aging fleets strained by prolonged conflict."
Below are highlights from the piece. To read the article in its entirety click here.
NAVY
- From October 2014 - April 2016 the Navy has suffered the heaviest losses.
- $1 billion in total damages.
- A MH-60S Navy Helicopter crashed in the James River in Virginia last week during a training mission.
- Navy F/A-18A crash in Nevada in January - $71m.
- A Blue Angels pilot was killed when his jet crashed.
- Budget cuts have caused the Navy to lose about 10% of its maintenance crews for some of its older planes.
AIR FORCE
- The Air Force has had 27 "Class A mishaps" since October 2014.
- Two F-16C fighter jets collided in the skies over Georgia, earlier this month.
- An Air Force Thunderbird demonstration squadron jet crashed.
- Since October 2014 the Air Force has lost over $526m in damaged or destroyed aircraft.
- Including:
- A B-52 Stratofortress crash in Guam in May.
- A C-130J transport plane crash in Afghanistan in October.
- A RC-135 crash in April 2015.
MARINES
- Marine AV-8B Harrier jet that crashed off the East Coast during takeoff in May - $62.8m.
- Two Marine CH-53 helicopters crashed in Hawaii in January killing 12 Marines.
- Estimates put the cost of the crash at nearly $110m
ARMY
- The Army had 19 Class A aviation accidents resulting in 6 fatalities from October 2014 to October 2015.
- 4 soldiers lost their lives when a UH-60 Blackhawk crashed near Fort Hood, Texas.