Army helicopters crash; six dead

By JAYMES SONG

Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU (AP) — Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a nighttime exercise in a remote military preserve of the Hawaiian islands, killing six soldiers and injuring 11.

The crash happened Monday night on Oahu, across the island from Honolulu. The military said there was a light rain at the time and the pilots were wearing night-vision goggles.

The aircraft “somehow came in contact” with each other, but it was unclear whether they collided in air, Navy Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said Tuesday at a Pentagon briefing.

Quigley said it appeared the aircraft were not both in the air at the time, but did not elaborate.

All of the dead were aboard one helicopter, he said.

Four soldiers were listed in stable condition at Tripler Army Medical Center and seven were treated for minor injuries and released.

Honolulu Fire Capt. Stephen Johnson said the helicopters crashed to the ground about 100 yards apart. Rescuers described conditions as wet, muddy and dark.

“Obviously, it was a mess,” said federal Fire Chief Michael Jones.

The Black Hawk is the Army’s primary helicopter for air assault, air cavalry and aeromedical evacuations units. Each helicopter can transport an 11-man squad.

The two UH60 helicopters went down while participating in an exercise over Kahuku on the island of Oahu, said Maj. Nancy Makowski, a spokeswoman for the 25th Infantry Division based at Schofield Barracks.

“I heard a big thud,” said Perry Dane, who lives on Kamehameha Highway about a mile from the crash site. “It sounded like thunder. It shook, too, like a big rattle.”

The helicopters crashed in a military area accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles, said Mandy Shiraki, district chief of the city ambulance services.

The Black Hawks were among 30 aircraft ferrying nearly 1,000 soldiers from Wheeler Army Airfield to a base at Kahuku, part of a two-week Army exercise that started Feb. 5.

The victims were identified as Maj. Robert L. Olson, Minnesota; Chief Warrant Officer George P. Perry, California; Chief Warrant Officer Gregory I. Montgomery, California; Sgt. Thomas E. Barber, Champlin, Minn.; Spc. Bob D. MacDonald, Alta Loma, Calif.; and Spc. Rafael Olvera-Rodriguez, El Paso, Texas.

“At this time, our focus is on taking care of the families, and ensuring the injured solders receive the best possible medical attention,” said Maj. Gen. James Dubik, the division commander.

It was the second major accident involving the military in Hawaii in less than a week. A surfacing Navy submarine sank a Japanese fishing trawler off the coast of Oahu on Friday. Nine men and boys aboard the Japanese ship were feared lost and 26 others were rescued.

“Hawaii is shocked and deeply saddened by the crash, which is especially painful in light of the collision between the Ehime Maru and the USS Greeneville just three days ago,” Gov. Ben Cayetano said.