Harrier Crash Under Investigation
The Marine Corps has suspended all Harrier jet missions at a North Carolina air station following a deadly weekend crash.
CBS News Correspondent Michael O'Looney reports the Harrier, which can take off and land vertically, crashed on approach to Cherry Point Air Station Saturday.
Two aviators were killed.
The suspension will last until the release of preliminary findings in the investigation of Saturday's crash, said 1st Lt. John Caldwell, spokesman at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.
"This is a precautionary move to ensure the safety of all the other pilots at the Second Marine Aircraft Wing that fly the Harrier," said Caldwell.
Capt. Jason K. Meiners, of Avon Lake, Ohio, was killed in the crash, officials said. He was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 203. The name of the other aviator is being withheld pending notification of his family.
In 1999 and 2000, the Marines temporarily grounded their Harrier jets, as well as other aircraft, due to safety concerns after two major crashes.
The Marine Corps had the highest accident rate among the military services at 2.63 per 100,000 flying hours during the federal budget year that ended Sept. 30. That was an improvement over a rate of 3.64 the year before.
The casualties increased over the 1999 budget year due mainly to two Marine Corps accidents: an MV-22 Osprey crash in Arizona in April that killed 19 Marines and the crash of a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter off the coast of San Diego in December 1999 that killed six Marines and one sailor.
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