Post by Admin on May 24, 2005 5:58:34 GMT -6
Alaska soldiers injured in Iraq chopper crash
By JOEL GAY
Anchorage Daily News
Five soldiers from Fort Wainwright were injured in Iraq early Saturday morning when their twin-engined Chinook cargo helicopter lost power and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing, the Army announced today.
The names of the injured crew members, all from Company B, 4th Battalion, 123rd aviation regiment, were not available Monday, but none of the injuries was life-threatening, said Linda Douglass, a public affairs officer at Fort Wainwright.
Two of the crew were taken to Germany for treatment. Two others were treated and released, and another was held overnight in a hospital, she said.
Few other details of the accident were released. The helicopter lost power to both engines, forcing the emergency landing. The aircraft suffered substantial damage, Douglass said. Officials are investigating the accident.
The injured soldiers were part of a group of more than 500 military personnel from Alaska assigned to Middle East duty last December and January. Some 400 to 420 from the Fort Wainwright-based 4th Battalion, 123rd aviation regiment were to be based in Kuwait on the Persian Gulf, according to press reports at the time.
Soldiers from the 4-123rd are primarily pilots, crews and mechanics, according to the army. The group was expected to take 10 Black Hawk helicopters with them to the Middle East.
By JOEL GAY
Anchorage Daily News
Five soldiers from Fort Wainwright were injured in Iraq early Saturday morning when their twin-engined Chinook cargo helicopter lost power and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing, the Army announced today.
The names of the injured crew members, all from Company B, 4th Battalion, 123rd aviation regiment, were not available Monday, but none of the injuries was life-threatening, said Linda Douglass, a public affairs officer at Fort Wainwright.
Two of the crew were taken to Germany for treatment. Two others were treated and released, and another was held overnight in a hospital, she said.
Few other details of the accident were released. The helicopter lost power to both engines, forcing the emergency landing. The aircraft suffered substantial damage, Douglass said. Officials are investigating the accident.
The injured soldiers were part of a group of more than 500 military personnel from Alaska assigned to Middle East duty last December and January. Some 400 to 420 from the Fort Wainwright-based 4th Battalion, 123rd aviation regiment were to be based in Kuwait on the Persian Gulf, according to press reports at the time.
Soldiers from the 4-123rd are primarily pilots, crews and mechanics, according to the army. The group was expected to take 10 Black Hawk helicopters with them to the Middle East.
Where did you get informed so quickly? The "Sugarbears" (B, 4/123rd) used to be the "Muleskinners" (242nd ASHC, Vietnam). We wish them safe and well, for the remainder of their deployment. 
