Family Alleges Discrimination and Unsafe Practices in Lawsuit After Tragic Drone Testing Accident
PALMDALE, Calif. — On a seemingly routine September evening at Gray Butte Airfield, tragedy struck when Stephanie Cosme, a 32-year-old testing engineer and civilian contractor, lost her life to an aircraft’s rotating propeller during ground testing of a MQ-9A Reaper drone. Initial reports stated that Cosme had failed to adhere to protocol, but subsequent investigations and a lawsuit filed by her family tell a more complex and disturbing story. Cosme, employed by Air Force contractor Sumaria Systems, LLC, was described as not following proper procedures at the time of her accident. However, her family doubted … Read more