AEROSTAT claims made through 355th FW Legal Office Published May 19, 2011 By 030511 DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 355th Fighter Wing Legal Office will process all claims in regard to the AEROSTAT airship crash near Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., May 9. On May 9, the 420K Aerostat, a Tethered Aerostat Radar System, was flying at approximately 10,700 feet over Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, when the aerostat broke away due to a tether failure. This is the first time an incident of this nature has occurred in the Ft. Huachuca/Sierra Vista community, and it is being thoroughly investigated. Ft. Huachuca is urging any city residents not to touch pieces of the aircraft found on their property and to call the Fort's installation operation center at (520) 533-2291 to provide an address or location for removal. The safety of our community members is paramount and the Air Force is taking all necessary steps to investigate the cause of this incident and to assist the community in filing claims for property damage and/or personal injury. "Davis-Monthan leadership is taking support surrounding this incident seriously; our legal office is working closely with military and civic officials to help resolve issues caused by this incident," said Col. Brian Hastings, 355th Fighter Wing vice commander. The TARS is a Department of Defense asset managed by the United States Air Force. It is a balloon-borne radar system its primary mission is to provide low level radar surveillance data in support of federal agencies involved in the nation's drug interdiction program. The aerostat does not contain any weapons systems and strictly functions as a tethered, airborne platform for a surveillance radar system. Anyone wishing to submit claims from the incident should contact the 355th Fighter Wing Legal Office, and also speak with the claims section, Capt. Laura Wagner or Tech. Sgt. Charity Barnett at 520-228-5242. Claims can be mailed to our office at: 355 FW/JAD 5275 E. Granite Street, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ 85707-3845. -30-