A recent Marine Corps aviation accident is raising questions about the safety of our nation’s military aircraft. A KC-130 crashed in rural Mississippi, killing sixteen people. Debris from the accident scattered over a wide area and people want to know what happened. Airplanes can crash for so many different reasons that thorough investigation is the only way to find out what happened. No information about the cause of the tragic accident was released, but we do know that the aircraft that crashed had departed from the Marine Corps Station in Cherry Point, which is in the same location as Fleet Readiness Center – East. Fleet Readiness Center – East is a Navy aircraft maintenance facility that made the news when a whistleblower revealed that he and others got placed in positions that required them to perform work that they were not qualified to do.
At an Air Force base in Arizona, an Air Force Fighter Unit got temporarily grounded due to problems with the oxygen systems on their planes. Some pilots reported that they developed oxygen deprivation symptoms during their flights. Fortunately, backup oxygen systems engaged in each case, but not before the pilots experienced a lack of oxygen, which indicates that there is a safety risk. Navy officials have also noted an increase in the number of reports of physical problems caused by oxygen contamination or unscheduled cabin pressure changes that are being experienced by their pilots.
The problems with the Air Force and Navy aircraft could get caused by the age of the planes or by improper maintenance. It is also possible that both factors are causing the pilots to experience those issues. Regardless of the exact cause of the issues, it is troubling that these problems are happening at a time when there is a concern over whether managers at military aircraft maintenance facilities are disregarding qualification requirements when selecting candidates for highly technical positions. It is possible that the work of unskilled employees is contributing to the overall risk involved in flying military aircraft because aircraft servicing and maintenance requires a high degree of skill, knowledge, and precision. It is possible that absent the disclosure of a whistleblower regarding his lack of skills and qualifications for the position that he got placed in, even more unqualified individuals than are already employed in highly technical positions could have gotten placed in similar positions where their lack of ability could put the safety of others at risk.
Barrett Law PLLC: Standing up for Mississippi Whistleblowers
If you have exposed violations of the law or other rules in your workplace, you might experience retaliation in the form of intimidation, humiliation, bullying, harassment, or even job loss. Fortunately, if you have experienced any of those kinds of retaliation, you might be able to file a claim for damages under the whistleblower protection laws. To learn more, call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney of Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 for an initial consultation.
