Helicopter crashes at Wheeler; injuries reported

Honolulu Star Bulletin ^ | May 27, 2009 | staff

[syriacus]

An Army helicopter on a training exercise crashed this afternoon at Wheeler Army Airfield at Schofield Barracks, and there are initial reports of multiple injuries.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Earle Kealoha said firefighters responded to a call of a downed aircraft at 3:34 p.m. But when they arrived four minutes later, federal fire crews already had the fire under control.

The airfield houses helicopters assigned to both 25th Infantry Division and the Hawaii Army National Guard.

The Federal Aviation Administration said initial reports indicate that the crash involved a military helicopter. An Army spokesman confirmed that the aircraft was a two-person OH-58D Kiowa helicopter.

[TexasBeth]

My prayers go out to these families. I lived just a block from the air field on Wheeler.

[TXnMA]

An Army spokesman confirmed that the aircraft was a two-person OH-58D Kiowa helicopter.

Prayers up! Thank heaven it wasn't a Blackhawk or Chinook full of troops!

[syriacus]

Update: Army looks into cause of copter's fatal crash