Ensign and four chiefs charged for leaking F-35 crash video
By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Feb 18, 03:22 AM
A Navy officer and four senior enlisted leaders are facing non-judicial punishment in connection to the leak of shipboard video footage showing the harrowing Jan. 24 crash of an F-35C Lightning II jet on the deck of the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson while the ship was deployed to the South China Sea.
The video shows the jet hitting the deck, catching fire and then sliding the length of the carrier before falling into the sea.
A Navy ensign, a senior chief and three chiefs have all been charged with failure to obey an order under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Naval Air Forces spokesman Cmdr. Zach Harrell declined to identify the accused or confirm where their cases are in the legal process.
While the investigation into the leaked video is complete, the investigation into the crash remains ongoing, Harrell said.
The Navy has yet to salvage the wreckage. Seven sailors were injured in the mishap, including the pilot who ejected.
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