U.S. Marines face first hearing on fatal Italy resort accident
     JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - April 9, 1998 5:25 p.m. EDT - A U.S. mili-
 tary judge will open an inquiry this month into whether four U.S.
 Marine airmen should face courts-martial over an accident that
 killed 20 people at an Italian ski resort in February, the Marine
 Corps said Thursday.
     The Marines were allegedly flying too low and too fast when
 their EA-6B Prowler electronic surveillance jet severed gondola
 cables at the resort near Cavalese. They have been charged with
 involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide, damages to military
 and private property and dereliction of duty.
     In their first military court appearance April 20, the crewmen
 will be advised of their rights during a brief hearing at Camp
 Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, a base spokesman,
 Capt. Peter Farnum, said.
     At the hearing, Military Judge Lt. Col. Ronald Rodgers is
 expected to schedule an Article 32 proceeding, the military equi-
 valent of a civilian grand jury, for May, Farnum said. That proceed-
 ing could lead to courts martial for the four crewmen.
     Their damaged jet, which was on a low-altitude training mission
 when the incident occurred on Feb. 3, returned safely to an air base
 in Aviano, Italy. Twenty people on the ski lift were crushed when
 their gondola plunged into the icy mountain.
     The crew members returned to their home base, the Marine Corps
 Air Station at Cherry Point, North Carolina on March 14.
     The Article 32 hearing is expected to last about a week. Unlike
 a civilian grand jury, the crewmen's lawyers will be allowed to
 present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
     The jet was piloted by Marine Capt. Richard Ashby, 30, of
 Mission Viejo, California. The other members of the crew were Capt.
 Joseph Schweitzer, 30, of Westbury, New York, Capt. William Raney,
 26, of Englewood, Colorado, and Capt. Chandler Seagraves, 28, of
 Ninevah, Indiana.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Airlines say "no more" to bulky, numerous carry-ons
      April 9, 1998 2:17 p.m. EST   - Airlines have a warning for
 travelers who have long ignored limits on the number and size of
 carry-on bags: We mean it this time.
      United Airlines joined other major carriers in announcing this
 week that safety and on-time considerations are forcing them to
 crack down on carry-on scofflaws.
     "Safety and comfort are the No. 1 concerns here," United spokes-
 woman Mary Jo Holland said Wednesday. "Year over year, we're just
 seeing greater numbers of people being able to travel. These rules
 will be hard and fast, and I'm hoping everyone will follow it."
     United plans to begin enforcing the rules on size and limiting
 the number of bags to two, starting May 15.
     At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, businessman John
 Billani was cheerfully oblivious to signs reading, "Carry-on bags
 must fit under the seat and in overhead bins." And he planned to
 remain that way.
     "If I can't carry these two bags on, I'd probably fly another
 airline," said Billani, when told of United's plans. "I do a lot of
 traveling, and if I have to wait on the other end to pick up my
 baggage, it would add 30 minutes."
                        CARRY-ON CRACKDOWN
 Delta:
     Plans to begin counting laptop computers and duty-free shopping
 bags as part of two-bag limit (Starting next week)
 United:
     Plans to begin enforcing the rules on size and limiting the
 number of bags to two (Starting May 15)
 Northwest:
     Limits most passengers to one carry-on bag and one additional
 small item such as a laptop (Started late 1997)
 American:
     Attendants determine the number of acceptable carry-ons for all
 flights by gauging the passenger load
     Airlines, which compete for full-fare business and first-class
 customers, tout their on-time status to people on the go. But pas-
 sengers carrying oversized bags typically scramble to find a place
 for them and often are forced to check them after boarding, delaying
 takeoff.
     A tour of several O'Hare terminals Wednesday found many leisure
 passengers following airline guidelines about size and amount of
 luggage, with most carrying only bags on rollers or gym bags.
     But nearly every traveler wearing a suit carried an oversized
 garment bag, briefcase and in many cases laptop computers -- counted
 as a third item under most airlines' rules.
     "I don't think this is an issue for business travelers,"
 Chicagoan Paul Farrell said. "People who fly all the time get on
 early anyway, so we find places for our luggage."
     Nevertheless, most of the industry is taking similar steps and
 carriers are lobbying the Federal Aviation Administration to adopt
 a uniform set of standards.
     Delta Air Lines next week plans to begin counting laptop com-
 puters and duty-free shopping bags as part of its two-bag limit.
 Northwest Airlines late last year began limiting most passengers to
 one carry-on bag and one additional small item such as a laptop.
     American Airlines' attendants determine the number of acceptable
 carry-ons for all flights by gauging the passenger load.
 ===
--- DB 1.39/004487
---------------