Limang US Marines kumpirmadong namatay sa helicopter crash sa California
(FILES) This handout photo provided by the US Navy 30 March 2003 shows a US Marine Corps Maj. Richard Focht, a CH-53E ‘Super Stallion’ helicopter pilot, preparing his flight gear aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) before going on a combat resupply mission into Southern Iraq 24 March 2003 in the Arabian Gulf. – Five US service members missing after their helicopter crashed this week in southern California have been confirmed dead, the US Marine Corps said Thursday. (Photo by Handout / US NAVY / AFP)
Sinabi ng US Marine Corps, na kumpirmadong patay na ang limang US service members na nawala makaraang bumagsak ang sinasakyan nilang helicopter sa southern California.
Ayon sa militar, ang CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter ay bumagsak habang lumilipad mula sa Creech Air Force Base sa Nevada patungo sa Marine Corps Air Station sa Miramar.
Sa kaniyang pahayag ay sinabi ni Major General Michael Borgschulte, commander ng Third Marine Aircraft Wing, “It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and the ‘Flying Tigers’ while conducting a training flight.”
Ayon sa Marine Corps, nagsimula na ang recovery operation para sa mga biktima at sisimulan na rin ang imbestigasyon.
Sinabi naman ni President Joe Biden, “I was ‘heartbroken’ at the loss of the service members. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, their squadron, and the US Marine Corps as we grieve the loss of five of our nation’s finest warriors. Today, as we mourn this profound loss, we honor their selfless service and ultimate sacrifice — and reaffirm the sacred obligation we bear to all those who wear the uniform and their families.”
Sa nakalipas na taon, ay nagkaroon ng serye ng mga aksidente na kinasasangkutan ng sasakyang panghimpapawid ng militar ng US, kabilang ang pagbagsak ng isang V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft sa baybayin ng Japan noong huling bahagi ng Nobyembre na ikinasawi ng walong airmen.
Limang miyembro ng American service ang namatay nang bumagsak ang isang helicopter sa Mediterranean sa panahon ng pagsasanay noong nakaraang buwan, habang tatlong Marines naman ang namatay noong Agosto matapos bumagsak ang isang Osprey sa Australia.
Ayon sa militar, tatlo pa nilang mga tauhan ang namatay at isa ang nasugatan nang magbanggaan ang dalawang helicopter na pabalik mula sa isang training mission sa isang liblib na lugar ng Alaska noong Abril.
