Military Identifies 3 Troopers Killed in Alaska Helicopter Crash

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 transfer grounds all Military aviators, besides these taking part in important missions, till they full the required coaching,” the Military stated 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,” 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.

“The whole workforce 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 stated.

A Security Investigation Staff from the U.S. Military Fight Readiness Middle, primarily based 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 regarding 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 basic of the eleventh Airborne Division. “The households of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as sturdy a workforce 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.”

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