Court Rejects Claims for Exposure to Radiation at B-52 Crash Site

A federal appellate court upheld the dismissal of Defense Base Act claims filed by civilian personnel who allegedly were exposed to radiation while assisting in the cleanup of a military aircraft crash site. Case: Carswell v. E. Pihl & Sons, No. 19-1630, 05/27/2021, published. Facts: In January 1968, a B-52 bomber carrying four nuclear weapons crashed eight miles from the Thule Airbase in Greenland. The crash destroyed the weapons, releasing radioactive materials, including plutonium. Soon thereafter, the Air Force began a cleanup effort dubbed operation "Crested Ice," wherein...