Stephanie Cosme, 32, was killed last year when she inadvertently walked into the rotating propeller of an aircraft in California

Stephanie Cosme, 32, was killed last year when she inadvertently walked into the rotating propeller of an aircraft in California

A US air force civilian contractor had become disoriented recording data at an airport in California last year when she walked into a jet’s rotating propeller and was killed, officials said on Friday.

In a statement outlining the findings of a report into the contractor’s death, the air force materiel command said that 32-year-old Stephanie Cosme was mortally injured on 7 September when she inadvertently walked into the rotating propeller of an MQ-9A that was parked at Gray Butte airfield.

  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    421·
    9 months ago

    There’s fault on both sides. The Air Force for not training her properly, and her for walking around operating equipment without paying attention to things that’ll kill you.

    Legally, though, the Air Force is probably going to pay out for her death.

    • turmacar@lemmy.world
      26·
      9 months ago

      The military is a lot more tolerant about working around running aircraft than civilians. Nominally there’s a lot more training/drilling/etc to keep situational awareness up… But also occasionally someone walks into a prop or gets sucked into a jet.

      I’m sure this’ll spawn a new series of briefings.

      Not sure how it’ll work with any payouts since she was a contractor. In general you’re being paid more at the cost of less of the compensation packages that service members get.