Post by Admin on May 1, 2006 6:11:33 GMT -6
Afghanistan Guardsmen hurt in copter landing
Jackson-based Guardsmen hurt in copter landing
By PETE WICKHAM
A Tennessee Army National Guard helicopter from a unit based in Jackson made a hard landing during a mission in Afghanistan Saturday, injuring both crewmen.
The names of the soldiers, attached to Troop R, 4th Squadron of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, were not released by TNG spokesman Randy Harris in Nashville on Sunday.
Harris said it "wasn't a life-threatening type of injury situation" with either crew member, and that they had been evacuated to Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany.
"Until we can get more information, that's all we can say about their condition right now," Harris said. "We've got to get more information from people on the ground."
Harris said the incident was more of a "hard landing" than a crash.
"There was mechanical failure involved, and the chopper was totaled," Harris said.
Abby Little, a member of the 278th's Family Readiness Group, referred an inquiry to Harris.
The aircraft, an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, was escorting a Blackhawk transport chopper in an area outside the capital city of Kabul, Harris said.
It is the first such incident involving Troop R, Harris said.
The unit, comprised of about 40 personnel, was put on active duty in October for a period of up to 18 months. They first deployed Oct. 26 to Fort Hood, Texas, and have been in Afghanistan for approximately three months, Harris said.
Jackson-based Guardsmen hurt in copter landing
By PETE WICKHAM
A Tennessee Army National Guard helicopter from a unit based in Jackson made a hard landing during a mission in Afghanistan Saturday, injuring both crewmen.
The names of the soldiers, attached to Troop R, 4th Squadron of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, were not released by TNG spokesman Randy Harris in Nashville on Sunday.
Harris said it "wasn't a life-threatening type of injury situation" with either crew member, and that they had been evacuated to Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany.
"Until we can get more information, that's all we can say about their condition right now," Harris said. "We've got to get more information from people on the ground."
Harris said the incident was more of a "hard landing" than a crash.
"There was mechanical failure involved, and the chopper was totaled," Harris said.
Abby Little, a member of the 278th's Family Readiness Group, referred an inquiry to Harris.
The aircraft, an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, was escorting a Blackhawk transport chopper in an area outside the capital city of Kabul, Harris said.
It is the first such incident involving Troop R, Harris said.
The unit, comprised of about 40 personnel, was put on active duty in October for a period of up to 18 months. They first deployed Oct. 26 to Fort Hood, Texas, and have been in Afghanistan for approximately three months, Harris said.
