Air Force pilot will not get honorable discharge

But court-martial plans shelved

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Air Force will not grant an honorable discharge to 1st Lt. Kelly Flinn, but she will also no longer be forced to go through a court-martial on adultery and related charges, according to CNN sources.

The Air Force confirmed arrangements have been reached in the sensitive case involving the division's first female B-52 pilot. Sources indicated it is likely, under those arrangements, that Flinn will be leaving the Air Force.

The court-martial trial, scheduled to begin Tuesday, was delayed after Flinn requested an honorable discharge. She is charged with adultery, disobedience, fraternization and lying to investigators.

Flinn, 26 and single, has acknowledged having an affair with a married civilian and having sex with an enlisted man, both of which violate military rules. She is accused of lying about the relationship to investigators and disobeying an order to end it.

The case has drawn public attention because of Flinn's pioneering role in the military and the implications for the military's controversial code of conduct.

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