Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

October 17, 2024

'The Death Trap' Dangerous Jet Combat Training Dramatically Increases Over Tohono O'odham Nation


A U.S. Marines 'Sniper' jet was among the military jets over the Tohono O'odham Nation this week in combat jet training, endangering the lives of O'odham below. Shown here is one of the Snipers based in Yuma, Arizona.


'The Death Trap' Dangerous Fighter Jet Training Increased Over Tohono O'odham Nation This Week

'The Death Trap,' Private Corporation and U.S. Military

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Oct. 17, 2024

TOHONO O'odham Nation, Sells, Arizona -- The U.S. military has dramatically increased its dangerous jet combat fighting over the heart of the Tohono O'odham Nation, with combat jets, a private corporation and a plane labeled as "the death trap," due to safety violations.

Tohono O'odham who live below say the sonic blasts break the plaster in their traditional homes. Dangerous flares endanger all life below, including the endangered species of Sonoran Pronghorn and more. Tohono O'odham are at risk below, including those in the community of Pisinemo this week.

The U.S. Air Force now plans to expand its dangerous use of the airspace over Tohono O'odham, White Mountain and San Carlos Apache and Pascua Yaqui communities in Arizona. Sacred places including Baboquivari Peak on the Tohono O'odham Nation are among those at risk. 

The enormous Goldwater Range -- 1.9 million acres in the Sonoran Desert located west of the Tohono O'odham Nation -- was set aside for U.S. military training, yet the military is consistently using Tohono O'odham Nation airspace.

Now, the U.S. Air Force wants to authorize more supersonic blasts training at lower altitudes. The dangerous expansion includes airspace over Native American Nations, and scenic regions of Arizona and western New Mexico.

Dangerous Fighter Jets over Tohono O'odham Nation This Week

The flight radar images below show the dangerous jet combat fighting above the Tohono O'odham Nation this week, including the private corporation Hawker Aviation, engaging with jets. The U.S. Navy, Marine and Air Force combat jets are based in Yuma and Phoenix.

The U.S. Navy is shown here above the Tohono O'odham Nation on Tuesday, as multiple jets in combat fighting are shown here endangering Tohono O'odham lives below.


The U.S. Marines Sniper' is shown directly above the center of the Tohono O'odham Nation on Tuesday, one of the jets of the Marines, Navy and Marines over the sovereign Tohono O'odham Nation this week.

 

(Above) This jet shown in combat fighting above the Tohono O'odham Nation on Tuesday is owned by the private corporation Hawker Aviation, registered in Delaware. Screenshot Censored News.

 (Above) Tohono O'odham in the community of Pisinemo and capitol of Sells, and everyone in this area, were at risk from dangerous jet combat fighter training on Tuesday. Screenshot Censored News.
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(Above) The DC 10 known as 'The Death Trap' because its faulty doors and safety risks is shown during the dangerous jet combat fighting over the Tohono O'odham Nation on Tuesday. The DC 10 departed on this flight from southeast of Riverside, Calif. Screenshot Censored News.

The Dangerous Expansion

"The U.S. Air Force has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that proposes a massive increase in low-level jet training flights in more than 1.2 million acres of designated Wilderness in Arizona and New Mexico. Such activity would shatter the area’s natural sounds, ruin the wilderness experience for visitors, and stress native wildlife," Wilderness Watch said.

Wild Earth Guardians said, "The Threat: The U.S. Air Force is proposing low-level fighter jet maneuvers and supersonic flights over White Mountains, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Baboquivari Peak and more. It will affect the Tohono O’odham Nation, White Mountain and San Carlos Apache Nations, and Pascua Yaqui Tribe."

Deadly Crashes Endanger Native Communities

The private company ATAC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, has repeatedly conducted jet combat training above the Tohono O'odham Nation. One of his planes crashed on the Paiute Shoshone Fallon Nation in Nevada, killing the pilot. Flight Radar shows ATAC jets over the western portion of the Tohono O'odham Nation, including Gu-Vo District throughout this year.

ATAC jets are shown consistently on Flight Radar over Organ Pipe National Monument, and the bordertown of Ajo, near the western border of the Tohono O'odham Nation.



On March 6, 2012 at 0914 Pacific Standard Time, an Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) Kfir F-21-C2 single-seat turbojet fighter type aircraft, registration N404AX, operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) under contract to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Naval Air Station Fallon, Fallon, Nevada. The pilot reported emergency fuel status prior to the accident. The sole occupant pilot aboard was killed and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The weather at the time of the accident was high winds, snow, and visibility of one-half mile.



Luke F-16 crashes on Goldwater Range in 2006 -- An Air Force F-16D assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadronke  at Luke Air Force crashed on the Goldwater Range west of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The pilot ejected safely, but the crash reveals the risk to those who live below the combat fighting in southern Arizona.



(Above) The Sonoran Pronghorn, jaguar, ocelot, and many other endangered species will be impacted by these dangerous jet flights, as well as the protected bald eagle. See the list for the area of the Tohono O'odham Nation:


Comment Period Extended

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization to Support Air Force Missions in Arizona.

"The public comment period has been extended to November 12, 2024, to allow additional time for the interested public to review the Draft EIS and submit comments. No changes have been made to the Draft EIS or supporting materials, all of which are available on the project website: www.ArizonaRegionalAirspaceEIS.com.

"Paper copies of the Draft EIS are available for review in several local libraries (see website for list). Comments submitted during the initial public comment period from August 9 – October 9, 2024, are currently being reviewed and do not need to be resubmitted.

"Proposed Action: The Air Force is proposing to alleviate training shortfalls and address evolving training needs by requesting that the Federal Aviation Administration implement regional airspace modifications such as: adjusting the times of use, adjusting the horizontal dimensions, adjusting the altitudes to support low-altitude training, authorizing supersonic training at lower altitudes, and authorizing the use of chaff and lowering the minimum release altitude for flares. The Proposed Action doesn’t include the creation of new special use airspace or any changes at the installations, changes to land use beneath the airspace, or weapons release. The special use airspace being addressed in the EIS is located throughout Arizona and a small area of western New Mexico."

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