'Three of our best': US Army identifies soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash
Military officials have identified three soldiers killed last week after two Army helicopters collided near Healy, Alaska, according to a statement from the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division.
The helicopters were returning to Fort Wainwright from an aerial gunnery range southeast of Fairbanks when they collided, officials reported.
Those killed in the crash were identified 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.
John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska, said a fourth soldier survived and remained hospitalized Sunday. He was not identified by military personnel.
"The battalion is devastated and mourning the loss of three of our best," Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, the 1-25th AB commander, released in a statement. "Our loss, however, cannot be compared to the suffering and loss which the family members ... are experiencing."
Military aircrafts grounded for training U.S. Army grounds aviation units for training after 12 soldiers die in helicopter crashes
The two AH-64 Apache helicopters collided Thursday over a rugged, mountainous area, and there were no weather issues or visibility problems at the time, an Army spokesperson said.
The 1:39 p.m. crash took place about 50 miles east of Healy, officials reported.
3 dead, 1 hurt in Army chopper crash Investigation underway after US Army helicopter collision
Safety investigation
A team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, headquartered at Fort Novosel, Alabama, will lead the safety investigation, the release said.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a signal to restrict air traffic within 25 nautical miles of the crash site through Thursday.
Army grounds aviation units for training after 12 soldier deaths
The deadly helicopter crash in Alaska came a month after nine soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash during a nighttime training exercise near Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The fatal incidents prompted the Army to ground aviation units for training, according to Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, an Army spokesperson. The suspension of air operations was effective immediately, with units grounded until they complete the training.
For active-duty units, the training is to take place between May 1 and 5. Army National Guard and Reserve units will have until May 31 to complete the training.
"The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training," the Army said in a statement.
Contributing: Associated Press
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alaska Army helicopter crash: Names of soldiers released by military
