US Air Force investigating death of 2 airmen at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany
SPANGDALEM AIR BASE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 25: An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, flies familiarization flights down the NATO parallel runway in preparation for the changes to take effect due to the Rhein Main Tran
BERLIN - The U.S. Air Force said Monday it is investigating the cause of death of two servicemen who died at a base in Germany last week.
Airman 1st Class Xavier Leaphart and Airman 1st Class Aziess Whitehurst, both aged 20, were found unresponsive in a dormitory room at Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Thursday evening and pronounced dead shortly afterward.
“The cause of the death is still under investigation,” said Valerie Seeley, an Air Force spokeswoman. “More information will be released as it becomes available.”
She said no other base members were in the dormitory room and neither airman had roommates.
The Air Force said Leaphart, who was from Georgia, is survived by his father, Malik Muhammad, and mother, Pamela Leaphart. It said Whitehurst, from Arizona, is survived by his father and mother, Davin and Maria Whitehurst.
In a statement Sunday, base commander Col. David Epperson expressed his condolences to “the friends and families that have been affected by this tragedy.”