Relatives of 3 soldiers killed in Afghanistan plane crash suing contractor

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The families of three soldiers killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan have sued the flight’s contractor for failing to follow proper safety procedures before and during the flight.

The lawsuit alleges that Blackwater Inc. and several subsidiaries used inexperienced pilots, did not plot proper flight plans, and ignored company safety procedures on the Nov. 27, 2004, flight which killed three company employees and three soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

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Last fall, Blackwater received nearly $35 million from the Department of Defense to shuttle servicemembers and U.S. contractors in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

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McMahon, Chief Warrant Officer Travis Grogan, and the three Blackwater employees were killed in the crash; Spc. Harley Miller survived but died before rescuers could arrive, which took several days due to weather and the lack of a flight plan.

Attorney Bob Spohrer said before the flight officials ignored company policies to pair up inexperienced pilots with skilled ones, instead opting to send two novice pilots into a treacherous area. No flight plan was filed, so the pilots did not have a clear idea how to navigate the mountainous area and rescue crews could not retrace the flight route.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29747

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2. Relatives of 3 soldiers killed in Afghanistan plane crash suing contractor

Relatives of three soldiers killed in Afghanistan plane crash suing contractor (BilgeWater)




Friday, June 17, 2005


WASHINGTON — The families of three soldiers killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan have sued the flight’s contractor for failing to follow proper safety procedures before and during the flight.

The lawsuit alleges that Blackwater Inc. and several subsidiaries used inexperienced pilots, did not plot proper flight plans, and ignored company safety procedures on the Nov. 27, 2004, flight which killed three company employees and three soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

“It is difficult to know was killed in what I believe was a preventable accident,” said Army Col. Jeanette McMahon, wife of Lt. Col. Michael McMahon.“In the military, it’s always safety considerations first. I don’t feel Blackwater took the appropriate safety steps in this flight.”

Last fall, Blackwater received nearly $35 million from the Department of Defense to shuttle servicemembers and U.S. contractors in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.