The US Navy has ordered a safety stand down for all non-deployed US Navy aviation units after two crashes last week.
Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, Commander, Naval Air Forces, issued the order on October 26 after an F/A-18E Super Hornet crash on October 20 and the fatal T-6B Texan II crash just three days later.
“This stand down provides an opportunity for our aviation commands to focus on how to further improve operational risk management and risk mitigation across the Naval Aviation enterprise,” the service said in a statement.
The F/A-18E Super Hornet crash occurred near Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in the Superior Valley. The pilot ejected safely and was taken to a local medical facility for examination.
The Texan II crash claimed the lives of two aviators, Navy Lt. Rhiannon Ross, 30 years, and US Coast Guard Ensign Morgan Garrett, 24 years. The aircraft was flying out of Naval Air Station Whiting Field and crashed in Foley, Alabama, October 23.
“The safety of our personnel and our local communities is a top priority, we take all aviation incidents extremely seriously,” the navy said.
