U.S. Air Force fires its Thunderbird team captain

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday said it had fired the captain of its Thunderbird flight demonstration team after his commanding officer lost confidence in him.

The air force's 57th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt relieved Lt. Col. Jason Heard of duty after the Thunderbirds concluded their flight season on Nov. 20.

In a statement, the air force recognized that the Thunderbirds had a successful season but Leavitt had lost confidence in Heard's leadership and risk management style.

Leavitt held that removing Heard was necessary to "ensure the highest level of pride in precision and professionalism within the team," according to the statement.

Heard had been heading the Thunderbirds, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, for about a year. A mishap occurred in June when a jet flipped over upon landing. A probe found the pilot had landed with too much speed, but it is unclear if Heard's firing was related to the incident.

The Thunderbirds team is a group of F-16 jets that fly in dozens of air shows around the world each year to promote the air force's image. Enditem