Air Force Commander’s Wife Shocks Nation With Opening Fire During Andrews Air Base Breach
WASHINGTON (AP) — The intruder who breached Joint Base Andrews, home of Air Force One, reached the residence of one of the Air Force’s top leaders before her spouse opened fire, the air force base said Tuesday.
Air Force Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne Bass confirmed the intruder had reached her home Monday. The chief master sergeant is the senior enlisted commander of the Air Force.
“We appreciate the tremendous support we have received following this incident. I can confirm that my husband Rahn was involved and is safe thanks to the quick response and professionalism of our security forces,” Bass said in a statement Tuesday.
In a statement released on Twitter, the air force base said: “A resident fired a firearm, security personnel have arrived at the scene to apprehend the intruder and law enforcement is investigating the incident.”
Joint Base Andrews is home to the fleet of blue-and-white presidential aircraft, including Air Force One, and a frequent base for the “Doomsday” 747 aircraft, which can serve as airborne nuclear command and control centers when needed.
It’s not the first time the base’s security has been breached; In February 2021, a man entered the facility through the military checkpoint, then through additional fenced security perimeters to gain access to the airline and board a C-40, the military’s 737-equivalent aircraft used to fly government officials.
This intruder was arrested because the “mouse ears” hat he was wearing struck an observant airman as odd.
An inspector general’s investigation revealed three main safety deficiencies, beginning with “human error” by a guard at the gate who allowed the man to drive onto the base despite not having access clearance.
Hours later, the man went onto the airliner undetected by slipping through a fence meant to restrict access. Eventually, he walked in and out of a parked plane without being asked, despite not carrying a mandatory badge that would allow access to the restricted area.
Tara Copp, The Associated Press
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