Charges preferred against Air Force officer

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- An officer assigned to the 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., has been charged with dereliction of duty and negligent homicide for his role in the C-130E aircraft accident Dec. 10, 1999, at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, that killed three airmen and injured seven.

Two charges were preferred against Capt. Darron A. Haughn by Brig. Gen. Richard J. Casey, 43rd Airlift Wing commander, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., based on Casey's review of the accident investigation board results from the mishap. Haughn, the mishap aircraft commander, was charged with violating Article 92, dereliction of duty, and Article 134, negligent homicide, of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Casey was appointed by Maj. Gen. John D. Hopper Jr., 21st Air Force commander, to review the incident for possible disciplinary action after the accident investigation board concluded the cause of the mishap was crew complacency and failure to follow governing directives.

The charges which Casey preferred will be delivered to the special court-martial convening authority, Brig. Gen. Paul J. Fletcher, 314th Airlift Wing commander, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., who will make an initial determination on the disposition of the case. This may range from no action to appointment of an investigation officer under Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which could result in referring the charges to a general court-martial.

It should be emphasized the charges are merely accusations at this point. Under the UCMJ, Haughn is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).