Canadian army identifies two pilots killed in Chinook helicopter crash

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The Canadian Forces has recognized the 2 pilots killed Tuesday when a Chinook helicopter crashed into the Ottawa River.

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Capt. David Domagala, 32, and Capt. Marc Larouche, 53, each died within the crash close to Garrison Petawawa. The households of each males requested that their names be launched to the general public.

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Capt. Larouche, initially of Amos, Que., earned a personal pilot’s license earlier than becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Air Power as a pilot. After attaining his pilot’s wings in 1993, he served with a number of squadrons, flying the CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-146 Griffon and CH-147F Chinook helicopters. He deployed internationally on Operation DELIVERANCE in Somalia and domestically on Operation PODIUM in British Columbia.

Capt. Domagala, initially of Woodstock, Ont., served within the Canadian Military Reserve earlier than making use of to turn into a pilot. After graduating from the Royal Navy Faculty, he accomplished pilot coaching and was posted to 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in 2019. He deployed as a liaison officer on Operation CALUMET in Egypt, for which he obtained a Commander Commendation from Canadian Joint Operations Command. He commenced his coaching on the CH-147F Chinook upon redeployment.

The Larouche household launched the next assertion:

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“It’s with profound unhappiness that I announce the passing of my beloved husband, Capt. Marc Larouche. He was a father, a son, a brother, a buddy…. Above all, he was a mentor. He’s been a pilot since 1993 and since has turn into a revered teacher. It comforts all of us to know that he left doing what he cherished most. He leaves behind to grieve his three sons Maxim, Guillaume and Marc-Antoine, his mother and father Janine and Alain, his sister Christine and his closest brothers in arms. Could you relaxation in peace, Marc. You’re cherished. Annie.”

Investigators are persevering with to look into Tuesday’s crash close to Petawawa. Defence officers introduced Wednesday that the our bodies of the 2 RCAF crew members had been recovered. Two different crew members on board on the time of the crash had been taken to hospital with minor accidents and have since been launched. The incident occurred shortly after midnight throughout a routine night time coaching flight.

Canada operates one of many extra trendy variations of the Chinook helicopter manufactured by Boeing. The RCAF purchased 15 CH-147F Chinook helicopters, with the primary delivered in 2013. The helicopters had been geared up with bigger gas tanks and state-of-the-art electro-optic/infra-red sensors to permit the plane to function successfully in very low mild or decreased visibility situations.

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The CH-147F Chinook helicopter is provided with a Cockpit Voice Recorder/Flight Information Recorder unit, recognized in widespread phrases as a black field. Acquiring and analyzing the knowledge on the flight knowledge recorder onboard the Chinook that crashed on June 20 can be a part of the continued flight security investigation, mentioned Nationwide Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier.

“The reason for the accident is unknown at the moment. The flight security investigation will fastidiously study all accessible proof to find out the trigger,” he added.

He famous that all through the method, Nationwide Defence and the Canadian Forces will maintain the households of the deceased knowledgeable, prior to creating info public.

Le Bouthillier mentioned the workforce consists of roughly 16 folks and consists of investigators, medical advisors, a fleet operations advisor, in addition to a technical and engineering advisor.

The Royal Canadian Air Power introduced Thursday that the Petawawa-based 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron resumed common flying actions with their CH-147F Chinook helicopters.

“RCAF will rethink the flying standing of the fleet if circumstances come up that warrant a change,” the RCAF mentioned in a press release on Twitter.

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“Actions can be undertaken in a approach that ensures members are bodily and mentally ready to fly/conduct upkeep on plane.”

The Royal Canadian Air Power has mentioned it has confidence in its Chinook helicopter fleet regardless of Tuesday’s crash. Maj. Gen. Sylvain Menard mentioned Wednesday that the Chinook helicopters had been thought of wonderful plane. “We’ve had one incident with the Chinook prior to now,” Menard mentioned. “It’s a excellent fleet that we’re proud of.”

Menard didn’t go into particulars concerning the previous incident, however an RCAF security report famous a Could 2021 accident wherein three crew members obtained minor accidents throughout touchdown. The helicopter was critically broken throughout the incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alta. The investigation concluded that “human elements” contributed to that accident as a consequence of improper procedures by the aircrew.

In August 2022, the U.S. Military briefly grounded its Chinook fleet due to gas leaks that would trigger engine fires, but it surely was decided on the time that the RCAF Chinooks didn’t have related points.

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There have been plenty of incidents involving RCAF Chinooks throughout the Afghanistan warfare, however these had been older variations of the helicopter. In some instances, the incidents concerned “laborious landings” that prompted minor accidents.

As well as, in Could 2007, Grasp Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede was killed when the U.S. army Chinook he was on board crashed in southern Afghanistan. 5 U.S. army members and one British member additionally died within the crash. The Taliban later claimed accountability for capturing down that Chinook.

Rankin Inlet in Nunavut was the scene of a lethal RCAF Chinook accident in August 1982. Three Canadian Forces members died and three others had been injured when their Chinook was attempting to refuel on the Rankin Inlet airport. The Chinook was within the technique of transferring to the fueling station when it was believed to have hit one thing, in accordance with information reviews on the time. The helicopter caught hearth and there was an explosion.

Killed in that accident had been Lieut. Dave Allen, 26, the co-pilot, from Brampton, Ont., Pte. Yves Vadnais, 23, of Ottawa and Grasp Cpl. Georges Deschamps, 38, of Ottawa, a provide technician, in accordance with United Press Worldwide.

Listed within the UPI information report as injured had been plane commander Lieut. Jochen Dous, 28, of Ottawa, Grasp Cpl. Robert Hersey, 28, the craft’s loadmaster, of Gloucester, and Grasp Cpl. Richard Phillips, 29, the flight technician, of Ottawa.

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