The Department of the Air Force has begun work on its second review on disparities in its ranks, sending surveys to Airmen and starting interviews focused on barriers to service that some face based on gender and ethnicity. This second Inspector General Independent Disparity Review is focused on disparities that Hispanics, Latinos, Asians, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders face, along with gender issues. It follows the first review that focused on barriers to service and military justice inequalities that Black Airmen face.

No one was hurt when a C-17 caught fire after landing April 9 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Seven crew members and one passenger were returning from an overseas mission when the C-17 landed at the base and caught fire, causing substantial damage to the Globemaster III. Videos and photographs posted online showed flames burning on the aircraft’s landing gear and black smoke rising from under its left wing.

An MQ-9 pilot pulled a wrong lever as the Reaper was taking off in Syracuse, N.Y., causing the remotely piloted aircraft to lose fuel supply and crash in June 2020, according to an Air Force investigation. The MQ-9 was “significantly damaged” at a cost of $6.085 million in the crash at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, which shares its flight line with Syracuse Hancock International Airport. There were no injuries.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III traveled to Israel for high-level meetings with Israeli officials, to discuss ways to further ways for the two militaries to work together as the U.S. prepares to re-engage on talks related to the Iranian nuclear deal, and an Iranian facility loses power in a mysterious incident. Austin, the first senior Biden administration official to visit the country, met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit also comes after the U.S. military shifted Israel from the U.S. European Command area of responsibility to U.S. Central Command. “They have great capabilities as it stands and, of course, we want to make sure that we remain interoperable,” Austin told reporters.

The Air Force’s main base for training future Airmen has named a key building after USAF’s longest-serving vice chief of staff. Air Education and Training Command on April 9 named building 905 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, “Wilson Hall” after former Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson, who retired in late 2020 after serving as the service’s No. 2 for more than four years.