JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va -- A misalignment and fall of a bomb rack unit during weapons unloading operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on March 22, 2017, resulted in fatal injuries to an Air Force staff sergeant, according to an Air Combat Command Ground Accident Investigation Board report released today.
The weapons loading crew chief, Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mae Morrow, of Dansville, N.Y., died as a result of her injuries from the accident. Morrow was home-stationed at the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, and was deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.
"Staff Sergeant Morrow garnered the profound respect and admiration of all she worked with," said Col. Brian R. Moore, board president. "Her tireless dedication to duty, professionalism, initiative, and constant care for her Airmen, particularly in deployed combat operations, were truly an inspiration."
The Ground Accident Investigation Board noted that the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing had performed a high number of missions in support of combat of operations. In the early morning hours of March 22nd, Sergeant Morrow and her team were unloading a bomb rack unit (BRU-61) with a single GBU-39 munition from an F-15E. She had secured the supporting cradle on to the jammer loader, with an alignment setting for a balanced, symmetric load. A single, asymmetric munition download was not common and required an alternate setting to ensure center of gravity. As she unstrapped the cradle near the munitions trailer, the imbalanced unit tipped forward. As she attempted to stabilize it, she lost her footing and fell. The unit fell from the jammer loader and fatally struck her.
"We mourn the loss of Staff Sergeant Morrow, and our heartfelt condolences go out to her family," said Moore. "She touched the lives of so many Airmen, and we will never forget her sacrifice."
For more information, contact Air Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 764-5007 or via e-mail at accpa.operations@us.af.mil.