Harriers Grounded at Marine Base After Crash

C H E R R Y  P O I N T, N.C., Feb. 5 -- The Marine Corps has suspended allHarrier jet missions at Cherry Point Air Station pending aninvestigation into the crash that killed two aviators Saturday.

The suspension will last until the preliminary findings arereleased in the investigation of Saturday's crash, said 1st Lt.John Caldwell, a spokesman for Cherry Point Marine Corps AirStation.

"This is a precautionary move to ensure the safety of all theother pilots at the Second Marine Aircraft Wing that fly theHarrier," Caldwell said.

The base is home to one Harrier training squadron and threesquadrons that are deployed on missions accompanying Marines fromCamp Lejeune, which is 30 miles south.

Capt. Jason K. Meiners, 27, of Avon Lake, Ohio, was killed inthe crash, officials said. He was assigned to Marine AttackSquadron 203. The name of the other aviator is being withheldpending notification of his family.

Meiners' parents flew Sunday to North Carolina with Meiners'mother-in-law, also of Avon Lake.

"It's so tragic," said Debby Deasy, whose husband, Dick,coached Meiners' high school basketball team. "He was juststarting to do what he really wanted to do. And he'd worked so hardto get there."

Crash Occurred During Landing Attempt

The TAV-8B Harrier crashed Saturday afternoon on approach as itneared the end of Runway 32L, an isolated section of the airfield.

The jump-jet, which can take off and land vertically but flylike a plane, was arriving at Cherry Point after taking off fromanother base and practicing flying from point to point, officialssaid.

The Marines temporarily grounded their Harrier jets, as well asother aircraft, due to safety concerns at various times in calendaryears 1999 and 2000.

On Dec. 11, the crash of a V-22 Osprey at Marine Corps AirStation New River, which adjoins Camp Lejeune, killed four crewmembers. It also prompted investigations into the Pentagon's $40billion project to test and build the tilt-rotor aircraft.

An MV-22 Osprey crash in Arizona in April killed 19 Marines.