A 33-year-old civilian missile specialist died from decompression sickness, known as the bends, following a high-altitude test flight on a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in August 2023. The employee, who had recently recovered from COVID-19, fell ill after an unpressurized airdrop simulation during the mission. Despite initially being treated for hyperventilation, his condition deteriorated rapidly upon the aircraft’s return to base. He was transported to the emergency room, where he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away the following day. The Medical Examiner declared his death an accident, with contributing factors of obesity, hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and a previous COVID-19 infection.
The report into the incident highlighted the risks associated with decompression sickness and acknowledged that even with various mitigation measures in place, the risk of experiencing it cannot be completely eliminated. The employee’s recent recovery from COVID-19 was cited as a potential factor that may have exacerbated his susceptibility to the bends, impairing his body’s ability to manage the sudden change in pressure. The report emphasized that the failure to recognize the symptoms of decompression sickness at the time likely did not impact the outcome. Brigadier-General Derek M. Salmi, the report’s author, paid tribute to the deceased specialist, describing him as highly respected and lauded for his intelligence, future potential, and kindness within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) community and beyond.
The medical examiner stated that the unpressurized cabin environment at high altitude allowed nitrogen bubbles to form in the specialist’s bloodstream, leading to decompression sickness. The report noted that the bends was ultimately determined to be the cause of death, with contributing factors such as obesity, hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and the previous COVID-19 infection. Despite the tragic outcome, the report underscored the inherent risks associated with high-altitude missions and the complexity of managing potential health complications in such environments. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Air Force for comment on the incident.
The report concluded that while measures are in place to mitigate the risk of decompression sickness, it cannot be completely eliminated, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of such medical emergencies in high-altitude settings. The specialist’s passing was acknowledged as a loss by his colleagues, superiors, and peers, with Salmi praising his intelligence, potential, and kindness in the MDA and wider community. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers inherent in high-altitude missions and the importance of recognizing and responding to potential health risks promptly, even in trained and experienced personnel. The U.S. Air Force investigation shed light on the challenges of managing health complications in extreme environments and the ongoing efforts to enhance safety protocols for personnel in such situations.
