Officers may be fired over nuke incident

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Two senior U.S. Air Force officials said at least five officers are being relieved of command over an incident involving the transport of nuclear missiles.

The officials said the Air Force is also considering criminal charges in connection with the Aug. 29 "Bent Spear" incident, which involved nuclear-armed cruise missiles that were mistakenly flown from North Dakota to Louisiana, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The sources said senior Defense Department officials haven't yet been briefed on the outcome of the Air Force's investigation but at least one colonel is expected to lose his command and several enlisted personnel are expected to face disciplinary measures.

The final decision is scheduled to be announced Friday along with the details of the six-week internal investigation into how a B-52 bomber crew erroneously took six nuclear warheads from one military base to another.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said she believed U.S. President George Bush has been briefed on the matter.