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U.S. officials said all five crew members were killed when their military helicopter crashed during aerial refueling training over the Mediterranean Sea.
WASHINGTON — The identities have been released of the five U.S. Army Special Operations soldiers who were killed when a military helicopter crashed Friday over the eastern Mediterranean Sea during a training mission.
U.S. officials said Monday all five crew members on board were killed when the MH-60 Blackhawk “experienced an in-flight emergency” during aerial refueling training.
Those killed in the crash were identified as: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38 of Clarksville, Tennessee; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California; Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, 26, of Gorham, New Hampshire; Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona; and Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota.
The military first announced the crash on Saturday and said that the cause was under investigation, but there are no indications of any hostile activity involved. It said on Sunday that “search and rescue efforts began immediately, including nearby U.S. military aircraft and ships.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that “we mourn the tragic loss of five U.S. service members during a training accident in the Mediterranean Sea early Saturday morning.”
“While we continue to gather more information about this deadly crash, it is another stark reminder that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” he said.
It wasn’t immediately clear which military service the aircraft belonged to. The Air Force has sent additional squadrons to the region and the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which has an array of aircraft on board, has also been operating in the eastern Mediterranean.
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