Mississippi Jury Acquits Engineer in 2017 Military Plane Crash

The former military aircraft engineer was accused of lying and obstruction of justice.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A federal jury in Mississippi has acquitted a former military aircraft engineer of charges related to a deadly 2017 military plane crash near Itta Bena, Mississippi that killed 15 Marines and 1 U.S. Navy sailor. The plane was flying from North Carolina to California when it broke apart in midair and crashed.

Why it matters

This case highlighted the complex legal issues surrounding investigations into major military accidents, with the jury ultimately deciding there was insufficient evidence to convict the engineer of wrongdoing despite the tragic loss of life.

The details

The former engineer was accused of lying to investigators and obstructing justice in the aftermath of the 2017 crash. Prosecutors alleged he provided false information about the plane's maintenance history, but the jury determined the evidence did not support those charges.

  • The plane crashed near Itta Bena, Mississippi on an flight from North Carolina to California on an unspecified date in 2017.
  • The trial of the former engineer took place in March 2026.

The players

The former military aircraft engineer

An engineer who previously worked on the military aircraft that crashed in 2017, and was accused of lying to investigators and obstructing justice in the aftermath.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges in holding individuals accountable for major military accidents, even in the face of tragic loss of life, when the evidence does not clearly support criminal charges according to the legal standards required for conviction.