SrA. James A. Hansen was too close to a controlled detonation of unserviceable ordnance last September at JB Balad, Iraq, and that mistake cost him his life, Air Force investigators have determined. Hansen was one of 19 observers watching the blast. Debris struck and killed him. Air Force Materiel Command’s ground accident investigation board has determined that the observer group was “not far enough away from the explosion to be completely outside the blast range,” states a release. Hansen was an airfield management operations coordinator from Eglin AFB, Fla., who was deployed to Balad. “The loss of SrA. Hansen is tragic,” said Col. John Franz, board president. Franz added, “He was a dedicated warrior, a patriotic citizen, and a valued member of the AFMC team.” As a result of the mishap, Balad officials halted all non-emergency detonations and are rewriting EOD operating instructions. (GAIB report full text; caution, large-sized file)
ACC Unveils New Way to Measure Readiness
May 9, 2025
Air Combat Command is changing how it measures and tracks readiness for its fleet of aircraft, with a top general saying the focus is on “simplicity” and better articulating what its wings need.