USAFE Airmen killed, wounded in Frankfurt airport shooting

News > USAFE Airmen killed, wounded in Frankfurt airport shooting

USAFE Airmen killed, wounded in Frankfurt airport shooting

Posted 3/2/2011

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3/2/2011 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The two Airmen killed and two Airmen wounded in the shooting March 2 in Frankfurt were assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe units.

The shooting took place on a U.S. Air Force bus outside Terminal 2 of Frankfurt International Airport.

The bus was transporting a security forces team assigned to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, from the airport to Ramstein Air Base. They were on their way to support Overseas Contingency Operations.

German authorities have the shooter in custody.

The names of the deceased are being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin.

Click here for a video report.

Comments

3/11/2011 2:14:48 PM ET
My condolences to the families who suffered this tragic loss. Bravo Zulu to those individuals who jumped on that COWARD when his gun jammed preventing further loss of life!

Dave Palmquist II, Anchorage Alaska

3/3/2011 11:33:38 PM ET
My heart is heavy. My prayers go out to the families of these two fine Airmen. May they RIP. USAF Mom

Patricia Hayden, Upland CA

3/3/2011 3:56:22 PM ET
My sincere sympathy to the familes of these Airmen They were sitting ducks. All my love and prayers to the families of the fallen and wounded.

Jeanne Linscott, MA

3/3/2011 3:25:47 PM ET
Where was security? Why wasn't there armed escort? Where were the German cops? My memory of Frankfurt is cops all over the place.

glen sharp, kansas

3/3/2011 1:01:12 PM ET
Lord please, please comfort those families. What a senseless act.

Lisa, Alaska

3/3/2011 11:20:51 AM ET
Lord you have called us to be guardians of a nation founded on Your principles. Whatever our tasks as Security Force men and women we do them to serve You and our nation. We are proud to accept the responsibility of this high calling. We dedicate ourselves to our vocation and ask for guidance and courage in aiding our people to live with dignity in safety and peace. We know true security comes from your presence so we pray with the Psalmist You bless those who obey You Lord Your love protects them like a shield. Use us 0 Lord as shields for Your people reflecting Your security and peace.

Ed, CA

3/3/2011 10:35:23 AM ET
I too pray for the families and comrades of these fallen Defenders. As a former cop though, what sickens me is the ATFP failure. We are told about maintaining a low profile overseas, so why do we still use USAF-blue, US-spec, Blue Bird school buses? In Izmir we often rode in big blue Chevy vans with the big gold bowtie emblem vehicles not available in Turkey. Buy American is great, but it's endangering our troops. Fix this ATFP failure. NOW.

DMPI, Al JBAB DC

3/3/2011 10:26:24 AM ET
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these Airmen. My son in a different branch of the armed forces went through this same airport the day before the attack. I truly feel for the families who are suffering.

Jerry, Oklahoma

3/3/2011 10:15:57 AM ET
That was exactly part of my job when I was in the US Army in Frankfurt. I drove a 66 passenger bus and picked up and let off US military personnel at the airport the train station and elsewhere. Except in those days the airport was Rhein Main Air Force Base. It was while I was doing exactly that job that I was confronted by Memet Ali Agca and his companion at the hauptbahnhof before Acga went to the Vatican in Rome and shot Pope John Paul. A woman one block from the hauptbahnhoff warned me not to take a train tour on leave that summer because a train might be bombed. Six months of terrorist threats came from two terrorist-connected criminals John P. Vogel and Specialist Stavrinakis both of HHD 21st Replacement Battallion of the US Army. I did go on leave by train-tour that summer. 104 people were killed and 265 were injured in one 24-hour period in two separate incidents both in train stations on my line of travel. The incident I survived killed 18 and injured about 70.

John, Middle East

3/3/2011 8:56:36 AM ET
Tragic event perpetrated by a coward. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of those who were killed and wounded. RIP Defenders.

Chief W--Retired, Tennessee Valley

3/3/2011 8:47:35 AM ET
My prayers and thoughts go out to the families of our fellow 2T1 and 3P. It's hard losing someone over stupidity. All 2T1's are praying for you and you will be in our family of Vehicle Operators forever and always. May you rest in peace to both fellow Airmen.

Nikki Hale, Kadena AB Japan

3/3/2011 8:34:19 AM ET
What a terrible loss for the families USAF and this nation. Our thoughts and prayers for the families of the brave airmen.

Stephen Wagner TSgt USAF Retired, Jonesboro ga

3/3/2011 8:03:50 AM ET
Very sad; however, I wonder why in this age of AT planning was the bus just sitting there. I know for a fact this is the reason all new trainees are air lifted to their training bases after basic. Somebody CONUS thought the old way of bussing them on the same routes day in and day out exposed them to unnecessary risk. Apparently they were correct.

JL, CONUS TRW

3/3/2011 6:10:30 AM ET
May the fallen rest in peace. Very sad to see things like this happen. Shows how real the threat in Germany is and how its growing.

A1C Meyer, Ramstein AB Germany

3/3/2011 5:02:58 AM ET
Rest in peace. You have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We salute you.

TSgt, Ft Meade

3/3/2011 1:44:35 AM ET
My son is serving with those men and women in Lakenheath. He is good friends with those shot and killed today. My condolences to the Airmen and their families. I am so proud of my son and all of the men and women that serve in every branch of our military. Be safe and God bless all of you.

Mark Goodison, USA

3/3/2011 1:04:06 AM ET
Leadership will have to answer some tough questions. RIP fellow airmen. Thinking of you and your family. God Bless

RJS, America

3/3/2011 12:35:38 AM ET
Here's a toast...

Kevin, WA

3/3/2011 12:14:15 AM ET
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THESE BRAVE AIRMEN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR TIME OF GRIEF AND SORROW.

karolina maples, USAF ROTA NAVAL STATION SPAIN

3/2/2011 11:01:02 PM ET
To my fellow brothers and sisters in arms...the 2nd of March marked another tragic day in the military. It doesn't matter if we are in different branches or stationed around the world. We are united to get one job done for certain and that is to defend the people and Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic. But how are we when there are people like that around? It saddens me because we face the danger to try and make things right and this happens. My prayers go out to the families of the fallen. You will never be forgotten. Victoria Phillippi, U.S. Army

Victoria Phillippi, Fort Drum

3/2/2011 10:11:08 PM ET
My thoughts and prayers go out to my fallen brothers in arms. Wow, does this say a lot about our enemy for them to shoot unarmed people. Maybe we should start making an example of the shooter instead of keeeping them for a few years then letting them go. Bad people need to start dying.

Sal, AFSOC Hurlburt Fla

3/2/2011 8:38:08 PM ET
Rest In Peace....

SSgtTSgt Gallagher, Vandenberg AFB

3/2/2011 6:56:28 PM ET
My prayers and thoughts are with the Airmen, the unit, and most importantly, the families of those killed or injured. God Bless you all through this difficult time.

Michael Saltalamachia, Joint Base Anacostia Bolling

3/2/2011 6:02:59 PM ET
My sympathy goes out to all of the families of the fallen.This needs to be addressed by action not dipomacy..

bill, largo fl

3/2/2011 5:56:54 PM ET
Typical cowardly tactics from these scum bags.

Kevin S, somewhere

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