The U.S. Navy just charged the commanding officers of two guided missile destroyers that collided with merchant ships in the far Pacific last summer – resulting in the deaths of 17 sailors – with negligent homicide. Both officers and their seconds-in-command were relieved of their duties after the accidents. Now the commanding officers face courts-martial and military criminal charges.
The commanding officer and three other officers on the USS Fitzgerald (pictured top), which collided with a container ship on June 17 off Japan resulting in seven deaths, face charges including dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel, and negligent homicide.
The commanding officer of the USS John S. McCain, which collided with a commercial ship near Singapore on Aug. 21 resulting in ten deaths, faces charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel, and negligent homicide.
An earlier Navy investigation said both collisions were the result of a series of errors, missed warnings and poor training. “The collisions were avoidable,” said Admiral John Richardson, the chief of Naval Operations.
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