ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310046
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
The Air Force sacked three senior officers in Europe who were responsible for the military jet that crashed into a mountainside in Croatia and killed Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and the 34 others aboard.
Technically the men were relieved of command rather than fired, but the disciplinary action in practical terms is ruinous to their Air Force careers. Criminal charges are possible, officials said Thursday.
The action was taken Wednesday against Brig. Gen. William E. Stevens, commander of the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; his vice commander, Col. Roger W. Hansen; and Col. John E. Mazurowski, the operations commander responsible specifically for the 86th's flight operations.
They are the airlift wing's three senior officers and are the first to lose their jobs as a result of the crash.
The decision to remove the men was ``a result of facts developed'' during the Air Force investigation of the April 3 crash of the CT-43 passenger jet flying Brown's party from Bosnia to Dubrovnik, Croatia, the Air Force said. The Air Force has not disclosed what caused the accident.
Lt. Col. Virginia Pribyla, an Air Force spokeswoman, would not reveal what facts led to the officers' removal. She said the Air Force would provide no details about reasons for the sackings until the crash investigation report is released, which might happen next week.
Asked whether the action meant the three had failed to carry out their responsibilities, Pentagon spokesman Col. Doug Kennett said, ``The action taken ... does not infer any judgment at all regarding the cause of the accident or the involvement of these individuals.''
He said the officers are awaiting reassignment.
Although the Air Force has refused to discuss any aspect of the findings, U.S. media reports have said the crash might have been avoided if military rules and procedures had been strictly followed.
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