Coast Guard Removes Ca. Station Commander

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Sacramento has been temporarily relieved of duty, five months after several crewmen died in a collision between one of the station's aircraft and a Marine Corps helicopter.

Rear Admiral Joseph Castillo said the decision to remove Capt. James O'Connor from his post was unrelated to the collision, which remains under investigation.

The Coast Guard said in a statement Tuesday that O'Connor had lost the confidence of his superiors.

In October, seven crewmen died when one of the station's aircraft collided with a Marine Corps helicopter off the coast of Southern California. Two Marines also were killed.

O'Connor has been reassigned to the Coast Guard's 11th District staff in Alameda.

Attempts to contact O'Connor at the 11th District headquarters were unsuccessful. Calls were forwarded to district spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Rick Foster, who said O'Connor was unavailable for comment.