Fri, Jan 10, 2014
Airmen’s Identities Released Following U.K Accident
Both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy provided updates Thursday from helicopter accidents on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean which resulted in fatal injuries.
The U.S. Air Force has released the identities of the four airmen fatally injured in an accident which occurred Wednesday in the U.K. Capt. Christopher S. Stover, Capt. Sean M. Ruane, Tech. Sgt. Dale E. Mathews, and Staff Sgt. Afton M. Ponce were the HH-60G Pave Hawk aircrew members fatally injured when their aircraft went down on the Norfolk coast in England Jan. 7.
An HH-60G helicopter carries a four-person aircrew: a pilot, co-pilot, and two special mission aviators who are qualified as both gunners and flight engineers. On this particular mission, Stover and Ruane were the pilots, and Mathews and Ponce were the special mission aviators.
"We continue to think of the loved ones who are experiencing such a tragic, sudden loss," said Col. Kyle Robinson, the 48th Fighter Wing commander. "The Liberty Wing feels as though it has lost members of its family, and we stand by to support one another and these Airmen's families during this difficult time."
The accident is currently under investigation, and more details will be released as they become available.
In Virginia, A second crewman has died following an accident involving a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter in the Virginia Capes. Two crew members remain hospitalized at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. One is listed in serious condition and the other has been upgraded to fair condition.
The search for the fifth crew member was discontinued Thursday evening.
The identity of the deceased crew members will not be released until 24 hours after the notification of next of kin.
The crew members are all members of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen (HM-14) based at Norfolk Naval Station Chambers Field. They were flying a MH-53E "Sea Dragon" on a routine mine countermeasure training exercise when the accident happened.
Virginia Beach Fire Department boats have located the aircraft fuselage and tail section using their side-scan radar.
(HH-60G, MH-53E images from file)
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