OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Despite the deaths of 17 individuals at Tinker Air Force Base solely in 2023, Air Force officials are reportedly refusing to disclose details on the respective causes of deaths surrounding the ambiguous fatalities.
A report from Military.com notes that “Air Force officials have refused to say what the causes of those deaths were, citing concerns for families and units on base” regarding the perplexing case of 17 deaths occurring at the base so far in 2023.
A spokesperson for Tinker Air Force Base, Kimberly Woodruff, shared a brief statement on the matter earlier in August, merely attributing the deaths to “various causes” and that “several deaths remain under investigation.”
Woodruff apparently also refused to confirm the number of reported deaths on base, which Tinker Air Force Base public affairs had already cited as 17, claiming Air Force policy prohibits any sharing of such details.
“I'm sorry," she said, "but we are not going to release the number of deaths at Tinker. We have ongoing investigations and to protect the families and the units, we won't comment on those numbers. It is Air Force policy that we do not disclose information about deaths or their circumstances.”
Tinker Air Force Base is reportedly home to approximately 30,000 personnel, with it being unclear as of this writing what the breakdown is among service members, government employees & contractors, or civilians residing on base who would make up the 17 fatalities for 2023.
Per Military.com’s report on the matter, a source on base told the outlet that “they had been informed of deaths connected to base this year including potential suicides, as well as COVID-19-related deaths.”
Colonel Abby Ruscetta initially shared a vague statement regarding the matter, opting to put out blanketed condolences and an assertion that officials are working to keep morale up.
“We are deeply saddened by the losses we have experienced at Tinker Air Force Base," she said. "Our focus moving forward is to let everyone know we value them, and we stand together as a team.”
However, Col. Ruscetta finally disclosed some additional details days later, such as conveying that many of the deaths transpired off-base and were mostly “a result of natural causes,” but still kept the statement fairly ambiguous considering that natural causes can be largely any death not caused by an external, traumatic injury.
“Eleven of the lost uniformed and civilian Airmen died as a result of natural causes of accidents. The six remaining losses are a result of other causes, some of which remain under investigation.”
The colonel continued with her updated statement, emphasizing that “every death, either by suicide or some other means, is a tragedy,” and that Air Force leadership continues to engage “with their people to acknowledge the loss of a valued teammate.”
A report from Military.com notes that “Air Force officials have refused to say what the causes of those deaths were, citing concerns for families and units on base” regarding the perplexing case of 17 deaths occurring at the base so far in 2023.
A spokesperson for Tinker Air Force Base, Kimberly Woodruff, shared a brief statement on the matter earlier in August, merely attributing the deaths to “various causes” and that “several deaths remain under investigation.”
Woodruff apparently also refused to confirm the number of reported deaths on base, which Tinker Air Force Base public affairs had already cited as 17, claiming Air Force policy prohibits any sharing of such details.
“I'm sorry," she said, "but we are not going to release the number of deaths at Tinker. We have ongoing investigations and to protect the families and the units, we won't comment on those numbers. It is Air Force policy that we do not disclose information about deaths or their circumstances.”
Tinker Air Force Base is reportedly home to approximately 30,000 personnel, with it being unclear as of this writing what the breakdown is among service members, government employees & contractors, or civilians residing on base who would make up the 17 fatalities for 2023.
Per Military.com’s report on the matter, a source on base told the outlet that “they had been informed of deaths connected to base this year including potential suicides, as well as COVID-19-related deaths.”
Colonel Abby Ruscetta initially shared a vague statement regarding the matter, opting to put out blanketed condolences and an assertion that officials are working to keep morale up.
“We are deeply saddened by the losses we have experienced at Tinker Air Force Base," she said. "Our focus moving forward is to let everyone know we value them, and we stand together as a team.”
However, Col. Ruscetta finally disclosed some additional details days later, such as conveying that many of the deaths transpired off-base and were mostly “a result of natural causes,” but still kept the statement fairly ambiguous considering that natural causes can be largely any death not caused by an external, traumatic injury.
“Eleven of the lost uniformed and civilian Airmen died as a result of natural causes of accidents. The six remaining losses are a result of other causes, some of which remain under investigation.”
The colonel continued with her updated statement, emphasizing that “every death, either by suicide or some other means, is a tragedy,” and that Air Force leadership continues to engage “with their people to acknowledge the loss of a valued teammate.”
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