Air Mobility Command accident investigators determined that a vehicle driver’s error led to the death of SrA. John E. King II of Sarasota, Fla., on Feb. 17 while King was on duty in the aircraft services warehouse at JB Andrews, Md., according to a command release. The vehicle struck King, 21, fatally injuring him, according to the Sept. 4 release, which highlights the findings in the command’s ground accident investigation board report. King was a member of Andrews’ 89th Aerial Port Squadron. King was standing at the rear of the vehicle and guiding an air transportation specialist driver as the driver was parking to create more room to move equipment in the warehouse when the fatal accident occurred, states the release. The vehicle driver “did not follow standard Air Force vehicle operating procedures and did not perform the proper corrective actions,” states the release. Lack of communication between King and the driver also contributed to the mishap, according to AMC.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
