Marine Testifies Pilots Had Briefings on Altitude Curbs

Just weeks before a Marine jet sliced a gondola cable in the Italian Alps, killing 20 people, pilots were briefed on new altitude restrictions, a squadron commander testified Monday at a hearing for the plane’s pilot and navigator.

Lt. Col. Richard Muegge said an order that pilots not fly below 1,000 feet was discussed at a squadron meeting Dec. 15 and reiterated two days later in an e-mail to officers who attended the meeting.

Another order was issued in October that pilots not fly below 2,000 feet near Cavalese, Italy, where the gondola was located. But it was not known if pilots were made aware of the order.

No testimony surfaced as to whether Capt. Richard Ashby, the pilot, or Capt. Joseph P. Schweitzer, the navigator, were at the meeting where the altitude limits were discussed. The hearing is to determine whether the two should be court-martialed for the Feb. 3 accident.

Ashby and Schweitzer were among four crew members conducting a low-level training mission when their jet severed the cable, strung 370 feet above the ground. Twenty people plummeted to their deaths. Ashby flew the damaged jet safely to the air base in Aviano, Italy.

“In my mind, it was well-known that there were ski areas all over the place,” Muegge said. “We were in the Alps.”

The four aviators have denied flying recklessly, the major point of the government case against them. The case of the other two fliers of the EA-6B Prowler’s back seat crew will be dealt with after the first hearing.

Each Marine is charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of negligent homicide as well as charges of destruction of private property, military property and dereliction of duty. If tried and convicted of the charges, each faces life in prison.