Air Force Says Sig Sauer Pistols are Safe After Airman’s Death Sparked a Review

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AP) — A U.S. Air Force command says nearly all of its Sig Sauer M18 pistols can be safely carried at nuclear weapons sites after the death of an airman sparked a monthlong pause and safety inspection of the handguns.

Sig Sauer is currently facing lawsuits over unintentional discharge claims about the civilian version of the pistol, the P320. Other military branches kept using the M18 while the Air Force Global Strike Command reviewed whether its inventory was safe.

The command found 191 of its handguns needed repairs, mostly for wear to their safety lever, striker assembly or sear, which is part of the trigger mechanism, the Air Force said. Nearly 8,000 M18s passed inspection.

Security forces at bases were able to use M18s again as of Monday, the Louisiana-based command said in a news release, and enhanced inspection procedures for the guns will be implemented as part of its commitment to safety.

“It is paramount that our Airmen trust their weapon systems,” Gen. Thomas Bussiere, the AFGSC commander, said in the news release.

A review of weapon discharges showed that none were attributed to weapons malfunction, the news release said.

Lawsuits against Sig Sauer allege the P320 pistol can go off without the trigger being pulled. The New Hampshire-based gunmaker denies the claims, saying the pistol is safe and the problem is user error. It has prevailed in some cases.

The pause was enacted on July 21, a day after the death of Brayden Lovan of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne. The 21-year-old airman began his first active-duty assignment at the base in November 2023.

An unidentified airman was arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice and involuntary manslaughter, the Air Force said earlier this month. The Air Force has not disclosed the circumstances surrounding the shooting, saying it remained under investigation.

The Global Strike Command is responsible for silo-based and bomber-launched nuclear weapons.