Global Courant 2023-05-04 04:20:51
U.S. military investigators recovered flight data recorders from two army helicopters that collided last week in a remote area of Alaska’s interior, killing three soldiers and injuring another, the military said Wednesday.
Two helicopters from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright collided about 50 miles east of Healy on April 27 while returning from training, the army said. Healy is about 80 miles southwest of Fairbanks.
ARMY HELICOPTER COLLISION IN ALASKA THAT KILLS 3 SOLDIERS OCCURRED IN MOUNTAINS, CAUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION
An investigative team from Fort Novosel, Alabama, went to the crash site Monday when the flight data recorders, known as black boxes, and other “sensitive items” were recovered, the military said.
Two H-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment are flying in Alaskan airspace here. The Longbows pictured are similar to the ones involved in a fatal crash on April 27 at Fort Wainwright. (Cameron Roxberry/US Army via AP)
Sensitive items include night vision goggles and communications equipment, said John Pennell, a spokesman for the US military in Alaska. He said the team is continuing its work at the crash site.
The army grounded aviation units on Friday to conduct further training after recent fatal accidents.
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The military has identified those killed in last week’s crash as 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 private memorial is scheduled for Thursday at Fort Wainwright, near Fairbanks.
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The injured soldier is recovering at home after being released from hospital, the army said. The soldier’s name has not been released.