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Contractor killed by aircraft propeller lost “situational awareness” when she was fatally struck, Air Force says
A civilian contract employee who was killed when she walked into the moving propeller of an unmanned aircraft at a Southern California airfield in September lost “situational awareness” before the fatal incident, Air Force officials said Friday. A detailed investigation report revealed the frantic moments just before and after 32-year-old Stephanie Cosme was fatally struck as she carried out testing at Gray Butte Airfield.
Cosme, of Palmdale, California, was working as a test engineer on the evening of Sept. 7, 2023, when she accidentally walked into the rotating propeller of a parked MQ-9A Reaper drone while performing a ground test on the aircraft, according to a final accident investigation report. The 40-page report concluded there were two underlying reasons for the accident — first, that Cosme was incorrectly trained on how to take telemetry readings when approaching the aircraft and, second, “she lost situational awareness while walking around” the drone as she took readings with a hand-held device.
Brig. Gen. Lance R. French said two other factors also “substantially contributed to the mishap,” including a lack of communication between the contractor test team and ground support workers and, because of previous delays, “the tests conducted on Sept. 7 were rushed.”
Cosme, who was employed by Sumaria Systems, LLC, was providing test support services when she was fatally struck.
According to the report, after taking measurements with a power meter, Cosme walked down the right side of the fuselage toward the rear of the aircraft, “looking down at the testing device the whole time, and appeared to be pressing buttons, possibly to keep the backlight on.” As she came closer to the propeller, colleagues began “shouting and waving” in an attempt to get her attention, the report said.
“Without looking up to determine her position relative to the aircraft, (Cosme) proceeded to walk directly into the propeller of the (aircraft) sustaining fatal injuries,” the report said.
Just before 7:58 p.m., the engine RPM dropped from 100% to 99% and engine torque jumped from 16% to 31% — apparently the moment of impact. Seconds later, the report says, the crew chief yelled over the radio to the aircrew, “Kill, kill, kill, kill!” Moments later, a crew member can be seen on the aircraft’s front camera running from right to left, presumably running to the drone’s kill switch.
Cosme, who was struck in the head and the left arm, was unresponsive when team members arrived. Resuscitative efforts were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 9:06p.m.
In its report, the Air Force said officials later attempted to replicate the fatal sequence of events in the same spot with the drone’s engine running at the same power setting with similar twilight conditions and airfield lighting that were present on the night Cosme was killed. In that simulation, the propeller was not visible when looking to the rear of the aircraft, from where Cosme approached.
An obituary posted on Legacy.com noted that Cosme was “known for her passion for crafting, baking, aviation, and all things strange and unusual.” She was survived by her parents, two siblings, fiance and stepdaugher.
“Though her time on this Earth was far too brief, Stephanie left a lasting legacy of love and kindness that will continue to shine brightly,” the obituary reads.
The MQ-9A Reaper is a U.S. Marine Corps drone that performs intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over land or sea, according to the Air Force. The $56.5 million aircraft is 36 feet long and has a 66-foot wingspan. A Reaper drone can reach an altitude of up to 50,000 feet and carry up to eight laser-guided Hellfire missiles, according to the Air Force.
Reaper drones have been used to carry out U.S. military attacks, including the 2020 strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, and in 2021 against the Taliban as the militants were regaining control of Afghanistan amid the pullout of U.S. forces.
Alex Sundby contributed to this report.
CBS News
Former New York Gov. David Paterson, stepson attacked while walking in New York City
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked in New York City on Friday night, authorities said.
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.
Police said officers were sent to the scene after an assault was reported. When officers arrived, police say they found a 20-year-old man suffering from facial injuries and a 70-year-old man who had head pain. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the former governor said the two were attacked while “taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson.”
The spokesperson said that they were injured “but were able to fight off their attackers.”
Both were taken to Cornell Hospital “as a precaution,” he added.
Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The 70-year-old Paterson, a Democrat, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, stepping into the post after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer following his prostitution scandal. He made history at the time as the state’s first-ever Black and legally blind governor.
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Teen critically wounded in shooting on Philadelphia bus; one person in custody
A 17-year-old boy was critically injured and a person is in custody after a gunman opened fire on a SEPTA bus in North Philadelphia Friday evening, police said.
At around 6:15 p.m., Philadelphia police were notified about a shooting on a SEPTA bus traveling on Allegheny Avenue near 3rd and 4th streets in North Philadelphia, Inspector D F Pace told CBS News Philadelphia.
There were an estimated 30 people on the bus at the time of the shooting, Pace said, but only the 17-year-old boy was believed to have been shot. Investigators said they believe it was a targeted attack on the teenager and that he was shot in the back of the bus at close range.
According to Pace, the SEPTA bus driver alerted a control center about the shooting, which then relayed the message to Philadelphia police, who responded to the scene shortly.
Officers arrived at the scene and found at least one spent shell casing and blood on the bus, but no shooting victim, Pace said. Investigators later discovered the 17-year-old had been taken to Temple University Hospital where he is said to be in critical condition, according to police.
Through their preliminary investigation, police learned those involved in the SEPTA shooting may have fled in a silver-colored Kia.
Authorities then found a car matching the description of the Kia speeding in the area and a pursuit began, Pace said. Police got help from a PPD helicopter as they followed the Kia, which ended up crashing at 5th and Greenwood streets in East Mount Airy. Pace said the Kia crashed into a parked car.
The driver of the crashed car ran away but police were still able to take them into custody, Pace said.
Investigators believe there was a second person involved in the shooting who ran from the car before it crashed. Police said they believe this person escaped near Allegheny Avenue and 4th Street, leaving a coat behind.
According to Pace, police also found a gun and a group of spent shell casings believed to be involved in the shooting in the same area.
“It’s very possible that there may have been a shooting inside the bus and also shots fired from outside of the bus toward the bus,” Pace said, “We’re still trying to piece all that together at this time.”
This is an active investigation and police are reviewing surveillance footage from the SEPTA bus.