U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Hunter Hires
- An Air Force command is pausing its use of a Sig Sauer pistol following a fatal incident.The M18, a military version of the P320, has come under new scrutiny.The handgun has been the subject of safety complaints and lawsuits.
The Air Force command that oversees America's arsenal of long-range nuclear-capable bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles has decided to stop providing troops with Sig Sauer M18 pistols following a recent fatality.
In a statement shared with Business Insider, AFGSC spokesperson Charles "Moose" Hoffman confirmed the pause, adding that the decision was made after the death of a Security Forces airman at the base on Sunday morning.
Air Force Security Forces personnel are a military form of law enforcement and often work in base protection.
"Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the AFGSC Safety office," Hoffman wrote, adding that airmen will now carry their rifles only for the time being.
"While the investigations are underway, AFGSC is collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures," the statement said.
Hoffman said that "Security Forces Combat Arms Airmen at all AFGSC bases will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns."
The Air Force did not specify whether a negligent discharge with the pistol caused the airman's death, saying only that the incident is under investigation and that "the discharge has not been categorized yet."
Sig Sauer did not respond to BI's request for comment on the recent Air Force decision.
U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Hunter Hires
The M18 and M17 are military-specific variants of the P320 platform, which is also sold on the civilian market.
The airman's death and AFGSC's decision to halt the use of the M18 come amid a history of reported safety issues associated with the P320-series weapons and their firing system. The handgun has been the subject of complaints and lawsuits in recent years.
Michigan State Police, for instance, reported problems with the pistol in 2024 after one was fired while still holstered by a police officer, according to the military news outlet The War Zone.
An FBI report detailing the incident said that in July 2024, the police officer's "department issued Sig Sauer M182 fired uncommanded," while holstered. "According to the MSP motor officer's statement and the statements of others present, at no time was the trigger pressed intentionally or inadvertently," the report stated, explaining that "the MSP motor officer had objects in his hands at the time." It said he was holding his keys.
TWZ reported that incidents involving 'uncommanded' discharges have been associated with the P320 and its variants before. A recent lawsuit against the manufacturer was filed by a widow who alleged that her husband died last year after his P320 fired uncommanded.
A 2023 joint investigation by The Washington Post and The Trace uncovered 100 similar incidents and found 80 people who said they were wounded by their gun's uncommanded discharge.
Other government and law enforcement agencies have sought to ban the weapon, but legal proceedings against Sig Sauer are poised to become more challenging for plaintiffs.
The New Hampshire-based firearms company has successfully sought increased legal protections from the state's lawmakers amid the lawsuits filed in response to safety concerns, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.
