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By Steve Hall |
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December 22, 2010 - On Monday A Puerto Rico Army
Guard helicopter crashed off the cost of off the
northern coast of
The Coast Guard received notification Monday evening
from the Puerto Rico Army Guard Aviation unit
of a missing UH-72 Lakota helicopter that was carrying
six people.
The UH-72 Lakota helicopter was transporting four Puerto
Rico Army Guardsmen and two attorneys from the
Puerto Rico Department of Justice, who departed Monday
night from the |
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Officials
reported that one body was located and the remaining five are
feared dead. Officials reported that the two prosecutors were traveling to Vieques to assist with serving 43 arrest warrants, this after a seven month drug cartel investigation. It was reported that the pilot had 10 years of flight experience and the co-pilot had six years. It was reported that the Army Guard helicopter was flying with two other Army Guard helicopters, the flight was under heavy rain weather conditions and the helicopter was flying about 400 feet above sea level, the UH-72 Lakota helicopter was fairly new, it was purchased in 2009. The other two helicopters landed without incident. Puerto Rico Governor, Luis Fortuno said in a statement "these accidents remind us of the sacrifice that these public servants carry on their shoulders day to day." Governor Fortuno has ordered all flags to fly at half-staff for the next seven days. The Coast Guard had assisted local emergency responders on Tuesday in the search for possible survivors. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the missing soldiers and public service attorneys on the disappearance of their loved ones," said Coast Guard Captain Marc Stegman, Sector San Juan acting commander. |
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