HOMICIDE COURTS-MARTIAL OF MARINE FLIERS SOUGHT.(News)

A military judge has recommended the pilot and navigator of a low-flying Marine jet that cut a gondola cable in the Italian Alps - killing 20 people - be court-martialed for negligent homicide, a senior military official said yesterday.

The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the two other aviators in the EA-6B Prowler were not recommended for courts-martial.

The recommendations by military judge Lt. Col. Ronald Rodgers, first reported by NBC, will be sent to Lt. Gen. Peter Pace, commanding general of Marine Atlantic forces in Norfolk, Va., who will decide whether to order courts-martial or not.

``He doesn't have to take it, but he probably will,'' the source said of the recommendations.

Marine Corps spokesmen at Camp Lejeune and the Pentagon said Rodgers' recommendations will be released to attorneys today.

Last month, Rodgers held a hearing for the pilot, Capt. Richard Ashby, 30, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and the navigator, Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, 30, of Westbury, N.Y., to determine whether they should face trial.

In May, the judge held hearings for the jet's backseat crew - Capt. William Raney, 26, of Englewood, Colo., and Capt. Chandler Seagraves, 28, of Nineveh, Ind.

Ashby told the AP yesterday he hadn't been formally informed of the recommendation, but had heard from other sources he faces a court-martial.

``It just amazes me, the recommendation,'' Ashby said in a telephone interview. ``I'm pretty down, actually.''

The Feb. 3 tragedy happened when the jet clipped the gondola cable, which was 370 feet above the ground, while the Marines were on a practice run out of the Aviano air base. The four were on temporary assignment from Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina.

Each Marine is charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of negligent homicide, as well as charges of destruction of private property and military property and dereliction of duty. If tried and convicted of the charges, each faces life in prison.

The four fliers have denied flying recklessly, the major point of the government case against them.

The incident soured Italian-American relations, sparking protests at Aviano, calls to close U.S. bases throughout Italy and charges that American fliers routinely ``hot-dog'' in Italian airspace.

HOMICIDE COURTS-MARTIAL OF MARINE FLIERS SOUGHT.(News)

A military judge has recommended the pilot and navigator of a low-flying Marine jet that cut a gondola cable in the Italian Alps - killing 20 people - be court-martialed for negligent homicide, a senior military official said yesterday.

The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the two other aviators in the EA-6B Prowler were not recommended for courts-martial.

The recommendations by military judge Lt. Col. Ronald Rodgers, first reported by NBC, will be sent to Lt. Gen. Peter Pace, commanding general of Marine Atlantic forces in Norfolk, Va., who will decide whether to order courts-martial or not.

``He doesn't have to take it, but he probably will,'' the source said of the recommendations.

Marine Corps spokesmen at Camp Lejeune and the Pentagon said Rodgers' recommendations will be released to attorneys today.

Last month, Rodgers held a hearing for the pilot, Capt. Richard Ashby, 30, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and the navigator, Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, 30, of Westbury, N.Y., to determine whether they should face trial.

In May, the judge held hearings for the jet's backseat crew - Capt. William Raney, 26, of Englewood, Colo., and Capt. Chandler Seagraves, 28, of Nineveh, Ind.

Ashby told the AP yesterday he hadn't been formally informed of the recommendation, but had heard from other sources he faces a court-martial.

``It just amazes me, the recommendation,'' Ashby said in a telephone interview. ``I'm pretty down, actually.''

The Feb. 3 tragedy happened when the jet clipped the gondola cable, which was 370 feet above the ground, while the Marines were on a practice run out of the Aviano air base. The four were on temporary assignment from Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina.

Each Marine is charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of negligent homicide, as well as charges of destruction of private property and military property and dereliction of duty. If tried and convicted of the charges, each faces life in prison.

The four fliers have denied flying recklessly, the major point of the government case against them.

The incident soured Italian-American relations, sparking protests at Aviano, calls to close U.S. bases throughout Italy and charges that American fliers routinely ``hot-dog'' in Italian airspace.

HOMICIDE COURTS-MARTIAL OF MARINE FLIERS SOUGHT.(News)

A military judge has recommended the pilot and navigator of a low-flying Marine jet that cut a gondola cable in the Italian Alps - killing 20 people - be court-martialed for negligent homicide, a senior military official said yesterday.

The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the two other aviators in the EA-6B Prowler were not recommended for courts-martial.

The recommendations by military judge Lt. Col. Ronald Rodgers, first reported by NBC, will be sent to Lt. Gen. Peter Pace, commanding general of Marine Atlantic forces in Norfolk, Va., who will decide whether to order courts-martial or not.

``He doesn't have to take it, but he probably will,'' the source said of the recommendations.

Marine Corps spokesmen at Camp Lejeune and the Pentagon said Rodgers' recommendations will be released to attorneys today.

Last month, Rodgers held a hearing for the pilot, Capt. Richard Ashby, 30, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and the navigator, Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, 30, of Westbury, N.Y., to determine whether they should face trial.

In May, the judge held hearings for the jet's backseat crew - Capt. William Raney, 26, of Englewood, Colo., and Capt. Chandler Seagraves, 28, of Nineveh, Ind.

Ashby told the AP yesterday he hadn't been formally informed of the recommendation, but had heard from other sources he faces a court-martial.

``It just amazes me, the recommendation,'' Ashby said in a telephone interview. ``I'm pretty down, actually.''

The Feb. 3 tragedy happened when the jet clipped the gondola cable, which was 370 feet above the ground, while the Marines were on a practice run out of the Aviano air base. The four were on temporary assignment from Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina.

Each Marine is charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of negligent homicide, as well as charges of destruction of private property and military property and dereliction of duty. If tried and convicted of the charges, each faces life in prison.

The four fliers have denied flying recklessly, the major point of the government case against them.

The incident soured Italian-American relations, sparking protests at Aviano, calls to close U.S. bases throughout Italy and charges that American fliers routinely ``hot-dog'' in Italian airspace.

HOMICIDE COURTS-MARTIAL OF MARINE FLIERS SOUGHT.(News)

A military judge has recommended the pilot and navigator of a low-flying Marine jet that cut a gondola cable in the Italian Alps - killing 20 people - be court-martialed for negligent homicide, a senior military official said yesterday.

The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the two other aviators in the EA-6B Prowler were not recommended for courts-martial.

The recommendations by military judge Lt. Col. Ronald Rodgers, first reported by NBC, will be sent to Lt. Gen. Peter Pace, commanding general of Marine Atlantic forces in Norfolk, Va., who will decide whether to order courts-martial or not.

``He doesn't have to take it, but he probably will,'' the source said of the recommendations.

Marine Corps spokesmen at Camp Lejeune and the Pentagon said Rodgers' recommendations will be released to attorneys today.

Last month, Rodgers held a hearing for the pilot, Capt. Richard Ashby, 30, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and the navigator, Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, 30, of Westbury, N.Y., to determine whether they should face trial.

In May, the judge held hearings for the jet's backseat crew - Capt. William Raney, 26, of Englewood, Colo., and Capt. Chandler Seagraves, 28, of Nineveh, Ind.

Ashby told the AP yesterday he hadn't been formally informed of the recommendation, but had heard from other sources he faces a court-martial.

``It just amazes me, the recommendation,'' Ashby said in a telephone interview. ``I'm pretty down, actually.''

The Feb. 3 tragedy happened when the jet clipped the gondola cable, which was 370 feet above the ground, while the Marines were on a practice run out of the Aviano air base. The four were on temporary assignment from Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina.

Each Marine is charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of negligent homicide, as well as charges of destruction of private property and military property and dereliction of duty. If tried and convicted of the charges, each faces life in prison.

The four fliers have denied flying recklessly, the major point of the government case against them.

The incident soured Italian-American relations, sparking protests at Aviano, calls to close U.S. bases throughout Italy and charges that American fliers routinely ``hot-dog'' in Italian airspace.

HOMICIDE COURTS-MARTIAL OF MARINE FLIERS SOUGHT.(News)

A military judge has recommended the pilot and navigator of a low-flying Marine jet that cut a gondola cable in the Italian Alps - killing 20 people - be court-martialed for negligent homicide, a senior military official said yesterday.

The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the two other aviators in the EA-6B Prowler were not recommended for courts-martial.

The recommendations by military judge Lt. Col. Ronald Rodgers, first reported by NBC, will be sent to Lt. Gen. Peter Pace, commanding general of Marine Atlantic forces in Norfolk, Va., who will decide whether to order courts-martial or not.

``He doesn't have to take it, but he probably will,'' the source said of the recommendations.

Marine Corps spokesmen at Camp Lejeune and the Pentagon said Rodgers' recommendations will be released to attorneys today.

Last month, Rodgers held a hearing for the pilot, Capt. Richard Ashby, 30, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and the navigator, Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, 30, of Westbury, N.Y., to determine whether they should face trial.

In May, the judge held hearings for the jet's backseat crew - Capt. William Raney, 26, of Englewood, Colo., and Capt. Chandler Seagraves, 28, of Nineveh, Ind.

Ashby told the AP yesterday he hadn't been formally informed of the recommendation, but had heard from other sources he faces a court-martial.

``It just amazes me, the recommendation,'' Ashby said in a telephone interview. ``I'm pretty down, actually.''

The Feb. 3 tragedy happened when the jet clipped the gondola cable, which was 370 feet above the ground, while the Marines were on a practice run out of the Aviano air base. The four were on temporary assignment from Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina.

Each Marine is charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 20 counts of negligent homicide, as well as charges of destruction of private property and military property and dereliction of duty. If tried and convicted of the charges, each faces life in prison.

The four fliers have denied flying recklessly, the major point of the government case against them.

The incident soured Italian-American relations, sparking protests at Aviano, calls to close U.S. bases throughout Italy and charges that American fliers routinely ``hot-dog'' in Italian airspace.