Video footage shows a maintenance van appearing to hit a U.S. airman on a flight line at RAF Lakenheath, England, on Jan. 4, 2024. A post on the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page said the airman survived but was hospitalized with serious injuries. Air Force officials later confirmed that an airman was hospitalized. (Facebook)
A U.S. airman in England was severely injured on duty Thursday when he was hit head-on by a maintenance van on the flight line at RAF Lakenheath, Air Force officials confirmed Wednesday, following posts about the accident shared over the weekend on social media.
The airman was taken off base for treatment, 48th Fighter Wing spokesperson Maj. Keavy Rake said.
The airman had multiple open fractures on both legs and internal bleeding, according to an anonymous post on the popular Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page Saturday.
“The (senior airman) was pushing a tool chest and got smashed between it and the van hard enough the airbags in the van went off,” the Facebook post said, adding that the airman survived and is recovering.
A photo shared on the page Saturday shows a white Ford van with government license plates and significant damage to the hood and front fender.
Black-and-white security camera footage published on the page late Tuesday shows a similar van driving into what appears to be a person pushing a toolbox or cart. The person is thrown to the ground by the impact, arms and legs flailing as the cart rolls on.
“I can confirm that the injuries to the airman were serious because the wing was notified shortly after the incident,” a member of the 48th Fighter Wing said on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal Wednesday. “That only happens when a serious injury occurs on the flight line.”
Rake declined to provide additional details or the airman’s condition, and would not confirm authenticity of the video shared online.
“While we appreciate the public’s concern, it is our policy not to release personal details of our airmen,” Rake said Wednesday, adding that the base is investigating.
