General Dynamics Chairman and CEO Issues Statement Regarding G650 Test Aircraft Accident

News provided by

Apr 04, 2011, 02:08 ET

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay L. Johnson issued a statement today regarding the April 2 crash of a Gulfstream G650 test aircraft. Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, designer and manufacturer of the aircraft, is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and co-workers of our four Gulfstream employees – experimental test pilots Kent Crenshaw and Vivan Ragusa, and technical specialists David McCollum and Reece Ollenburg – who died Saturday in the accident involving the G650 test aircraft in Roswell, New Mexico."

"Our sorrow from the loss of these four great men is very deep," said Johnson.

He continued, "I am confident that as Gulfstream assists aviation authorities in the accident investigation, the cause of this terrible tragedy will be determined. We look forward to continuing the rigorous testing required to achieve flight certification of the aircraft."

"The G650 will take its place atop the long line of safe, reliable, high-performance business jets on which Gulfstream has built its superb reputation," Johnson said.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 90,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.

More information about the company is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics