A special effects assistant testing a mock-shoulder-fire stinger missile on the set of TOM HANKS and JULIA ROBERTS’ new movie is fighting for his life in a California hospital after the weapon blew up in his face.

The 35-year-old man was testing the missile on Thursday for a scene in CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR that was to be shot later yesterday at Downey Studios in the California desert. The assistant is in critical condition.

Fire Captain DARREN MOON, who was among the first on the scene after the accident, reveals the unnamed assistant breached health and safety violations by testing the missile a day before the film’s special effects team had a license to do so.”

Speaking at the studio last night, Moon says, “They knew they weren’t supposed to be doing any special effects today. I’d made arrangements for a fire safety officer to be there tomorrow (Friday).”

Hanks, Roberts and director MIKE NICHOLS were not on set when the accident happened.

The blast will hold up filming this weekend because the studio’s pyrotechnics license has been revoked, pending an investigation into Thursday’s incident.

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