A safety investigation board and an accident investigation board are reviewing the crash of an MC-12 surveillance airplane in Afghanistan last month that killed its four aircrew members, announced Air Combat Command officials on Wednesday. ACC chief Gen. Mike Hostage convened the SIB to quickly determine the cause of the crash and recommend safety measures to prevent future accidents, states the command’s May 15 release. The AIB, led by Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon from the Air Staff’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance office, will investigate the mishap and produce a publically releasable report on its findings, according to the release. The crash occurred on April 27 “in an uninhabited area 112 miles northeast of Kandahar Airfield,” states the release.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.