The tail cone of a Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 separated in mid-flight, falling into a residential neighborhood adjacent to the unit’s base at the Jackson Airport on Wednesday, the local Clarion-Ledger reported. The large fairing caused no injuries or significant property damage when it plunged into a street, bouncing into a local resident’s yard at approximately 7 p.m. local time, Jan. 6. “This incident is currently under investigation to help prevent any future occurrence,” National Guard spokesman Army Lt. Col.? Christian Patterson said in a statement quoted by the press. “The safety of our Mississippi National Guard personnel and everyone in our communities is a top priority,” he added. The aircraft, which is assigned to the 172nd Airlift Wing, was conducting a routine training sortie at the time of the mishap and landed without further incident at Jackson.
The Air Force and Space Force are both set to have new No. 2 officers. Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere has been nominated for Air Force Vice Chief of Staff and Lt. Gen. Shawn N. Bratton has been nominated to receive a fourth star as the Vice Chief of Space Operations.