SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Army recognized on Saturday the three troopers who have been killed when two helicopters collided in Alaska whereas getting back from a coaching mission.
The helicopters have 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 (80 kilometers) east of Healy.
The U.S. Army 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 Army aviators, besides these taking part in vital missions, till they full the required coaching,” the Army mentioned in a press release.
Killed in Thursday’s crash have 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 steady situation. He was not recognized Saturday.
“The battalion is devastated and mourning the lack of three of our greatest,” mentioned 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 mentioned.
“Your complete staff has come collectively to focus our ideas, prayers, and actions to offer and maintain them with no matter consolation and assist they want right now, and I promise that this may proceed lengthy into the long run,” he mentioned.
A Security Investigation Group from the U.S. Army Fight Readiness Middle, based mostly at Fort Novosel, Alabama, is main the protection investigation, officers mentioned in an electronic mail.
Division of Protection directions and Army rules prohibit the investigators from releasing any data to the general public in regards to the causes, evaluation or inside suggestions, the assertion mentioned.
“The lack of these Troopers is devastating and is being felt by household, pals and navy communities throughout Alaska,” mentioned Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding common of the eleventh Airborne Division. “The households of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as sturdy a staff as I’ve ever seen. Our hearts are heavy, and our ideas and prayers are with the households, pals and family members of the fallen.”
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