Minot Airman Killed

MINOT, N.D. (AP) - A Minot Air Force Base airman has died after

being struck in the head by a training missile during a training

exercise.

The base did not immediately identify the airman, who was with

the 17th Munitions Squadron.

Spokeswoman Laurie Arellano (awr-ee-AH'-noh) says the accident

happened around midnight, and the airman died early Thursday at a

Minot hospital.

Arellano says the training missile was an air-launch Cruise

missile, which is launched from a B-52 bomber. She says airmen

practice loading and unloading them.

She says fatalities during training on the base are rare.

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