4 deaths tied to oxygen failures

WASHINGTON - Four pilot deaths have been tied to oxygen system failures in F/A-18 Hornets, the Navy revealed June 15 in a U.S. Pacific Fleet review of oxygen problems plaguing the combat jet and T-45C trainers. The review was launched earlier this year after instructor-pilots at Meridian, Miss.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Kingsville, Texas, refused to fly with student-aviators in the T-45C because “concern about contaminated breathing air reached a tipping point” causing hypoxia or related incidents. Hypoxia can lead to disorientation, loss of consciousness or even death. The Navy redacted specific information about what caused the F/A-18 fatalities, which took place during more than a decade, according to Vice Adm. Bill Moran, vice chief of naval operations. There have been no fatalities over the same period with T-45C pilots. (Source: Stars and Stripes 06/15/17)