Reassignment in Gondola Deaths

The commanding officer of an air squadron involved in the deaths of 20 Italian skiers was relieved of his duties and reassigned, the Marine Corps said Saturday.

The military says an EA-6B Prowler from the squadron of Lt. Col. Richard Muegge was flying too low and too fast on a Feb. 3 training mission when it severed two lift cables in the Italian Alps, dropping the gondola carrying the skiers to the ground.

In a preliminary hearing, witnesses faulted squadron leaders for allowing pilots to rely on outdated flight charts and to grow complacent about the dangers of low-level missions through the mountains.

A spokeswoman for Marine Corps Forces Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., said that the supervisory error did not cause the accident but that administrative action was appropriate.

Muegge, who had commanded a squadron based in Cherry Point, N.C., was reassigned within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and given a letter of reprimand. Maj. Max Caramanian, the squadron’s safety director, also received a letter of reprimand.

Allegations against two other officers were dismissed. The pilot and navigator still face court-martial proceedings.