U.S. Navy officers face possible homicide charges over ship collisions

Thomson Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The commanding officers of two U.S. Navy destroyers involved in deadly collisions last year in the Pacific Ocean face courts-martial and could be charged with negligent homicide, the U.S. Navy said in a statement on Tuesday.

The commanding officer of the USS John S. McCain guided missile destroyer, which collided with a merchant ship near Singapore in August, face possible charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide, the statement said.

The commanding officer and three other officers on the USS Fitzgerald guided missile destroyer, which collided with a Philippine container ship in June, face possible charges including dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide, the Navy said.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)

See Also:

• Trump administration appeals 'Dreamer' immigrant ruling to the Supreme Court

• 'The Fakeys': Comedians turn tables on Trump's 'fake news' awards

• Chinese carmaker Chery to use Nvidia's self-driving technology