A collision of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that killed a U.S. Military medical officer at a Georgia airfield final week is now beneath felony investigation.
Captain James Bellew, 26, died on March 30 round 2 a.m. in an "incident" at Wright Military Airfield, an airport that serves each Fort Stewart and the town of Hinesville close to the Georgia coast. It isn't clear at the moment what occurred main as much as the crash or Bellew's actual involvement. Whereas particulars in regards to the crash are scarce, Military Instances reported that posts to non-public social media teams claimed each helicopters had been deliberately destroyed. The publication couldn't confirm that info, nonetheless.
Lieutenant Colonel Lindsey Elder, a spokesman for the third Infantry Division, advised Newsweek in an e-mail that the service's Legal Investigation Division has opened an ongoing investigation into the crash. At the moment, the Military considers the crash an "incident," not an "accident," as a result of the determinations behind the crash are nonetheless being decided, he stated.
Bellew was on medical evacuation responsibility the night time of the crash and was required to sleep on-site to have the ability to reply to emergencies, in line with Elder. Thus far, investigators say that every one different crewmembers had been additionally asleep in the course of the incident, he added.
The Legal Investigation Division investigation is an indication that felony exercise is suspected within the crash, Military Instances reported, citing Military accident investigation rules.
As a result of ongoing investigation, the Military is releasing few particulars in regards to the crash to the general public at the moment.
"Capt. Bellew was the one crewmember concerned within the incident and he was the
just one injured or killed within the incident," stated Elder. "At this level, we can not handle the way of the harm to the 2 plane, timeline of occasions, or the
response from the tower and emergency providers, as these particulars are nonetheless
thought of a part of the energetic investigation."
Elder defined that "all manners of loss of life are thought of" throughout investigations of noncombat-related deaths of troopers. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner will decide the trigger and method of loss of life, he stated.
Bellew was a local of Charlottesville, Virginia. He began working within the Military in 2017 and served as a medical service officer, airlifting critically in poor health COVID-19 sufferers.
Brigade Commander Colonel Eric Vanek praised Bellew in a press release to Stars and Stripes. "The lack of James is an immeasurable tragedy to his household, mates, crew and fellow troopers," Vanek stated. "James was part of one of many noblest professions conceivable; he devoted his life to serving our nation and did so in a task the place he was continually serving to, and saving the lives of others."
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