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2014 Repelling Mishap GAIB Results Released

  • Published
  • Air Force Special Operations Command
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The Ground Accident Investigation Board for an Airman fatally injured in a repelling mishap in 2014 was released on June 13.

On Oct. 21, 2014, Tech. Sgt. Sean Barton, a pararescueman assigned to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, impacted a metal beam inside a tower while belaying on the internal section of a tower at the Chaunni Military Barracks, Kathmandu, Nepal. The mishap occurred during Exercise Teak Nail 15-01, a Special Operations Command Pacific-directed Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) with the Nepalese Army Rangers.

He was treated in hospitals in Nepal and Thailand, but his condition continued to deteriorate and on Oct. 30, 2014, life support was discontinued and he subsequently died.

Barton was a 10-year veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan where he earned numerous awards and decorations including a Meritorious Service Medal, seven Air Medals, and an Aerial Achievement Medal. His teammates describe him as a dedicated leader, a loving husband who lived his life with passion, and one who is greatly missed by our AFSOC family.

"Sean's loss is devastating to us all," said Col Thaddeus Allen, GAIB president and AFSOC Operations Division chief. "He was an outstanding pararescueman and a dedicate professional who served his nation honorably in combat and civil rescue environments. In addition to being leader and highly respected PJ, he was a loving husband and son. His service and sacrifice will live on through his teammates and those he worked with including the Nepalese Special Forces Rangers he trained prior to their response to the region's massive earthquake in 2015."

In accordance with AFI 51-503, Aerospace and Ground Accident Investigations, the accident investigation board conducted a legal investigation to inquire into all the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident, prepared a publicly-releasable report, and obtained and preserved all available evidence for use in litigation, claims, disciplinary action, and adverse administrative action. An opinion determining the cause of the accident is not required, and thus, was not determined in the report.

For questions concerning the report, or to request a copy, please contact Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs at 850-884-5515.