Utah
Utah soldier, 2 others, killed in Alaska helicopter crash
An AH-64D Apache Longbow assault helicopters fly over a mountain vary close to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on June 3, 2019. The U.S. Military says two Military helicopters much like those on this image crashed Thursday close to Healy, Alaska, killing three troopers and injuring a fourth. (Cameron Roxberry, U.S. Military through AP)
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SEATTLE — The U.S. Military recognized on Saturday the three troopers who had been killed when two helicopters collided in Alaska whereas coming back from a coaching mission.
The helicopters had been headed to Fort Wainwright from a mission within the Donnelly Coaching Space after they crashed at 1:39 p.m. Thursday, about 50 miles east of Healy.
The U.S. Military introduced Friday that it has grounded aviation models for coaching after 12 troopers died throughout the final month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky.
“The transfer grounds all Military aviators, besides these collaborating in important missions, till they full the required coaching,” the Military stated in an announcement.
Killed in Thursday’s crash had been Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah.
A fourth soldier was injured and was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and was listed in secure situation. He was not recognized Saturday.
“The battalion is devastated and mourning the lack of three of our greatest,” stated Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, the 1-Twenty fifth AB commander. Their loss cannot be in comparison with the struggling felt by the troopers’ households, he stated.
“Your complete group has come collectively to focus our ideas, prayers, and actions to offer and maintain them with no matter consolation and assist they want presently, and I promise that this may proceed lengthy into the longer term,” he stated.
A Security Investigation Staff from the U.S. Military Fight Readiness Middle, based mostly at Fort Novosel, Alabama, is main the security investigation, officers stated in an electronic mail.
Division of Protection directions and Military laws prohibit the investigators from releasing any data to the general public in regards to the causes, evaluation or inner suggestions, the assertion stated.
“The lack of these troopers is devastating and is being felt by household, buddies and army communities throughout Alaska,” stated Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding normal of the eleventh Airborne Division. “The households of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as sturdy a group as I’ve ever seen. Our hearts are heavy, and our ideas and prayers are with the households, buddies and family members of the fallen.”