TAMPA — A staff sergeant killed earlier this week in an accident at MacDill Air Force Base was crushed to death when a 2,400-pound aircraft refueling boom fell on her, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office.
Staff Sgt. Emily Elizabeth Clayburn, 29, of Palatine Bridge, N.Y., was a member of the 6th Air Mobility Wing and was assigned to the 6th Logistic Readiness Squadron.
Clayburn was helping "uncrate" a new boom when the accident occurred, the Medical Examiner's office said. The boom was not attached to an aircraft at the time.
The boom would have been installed on a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. It's attached to the rear of the plane and is used to direct fuel into another airplane. MacDill is home to 16 KC-135s.
The Medical Examiner's Office declined to say where on base the accident occurred.
The Air Mobility Command has convened a board to investigate the accident. "The board will review every factor and precursor of this mishap in order to prevent future accidents of this type from happening," MacDill said in a news release.
The 6th will hold a private memorial service for Clayburn Friday, and flags on MacDill will be flown at half-staff in her honor.
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