Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Military helicopter did not respond as expected before crash: investigators

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jun, 2020 07:02 PM
  • Military helicopter did not respond as expected before crash: investigators

Flight investigators have determined the military helicopter that crashed off the coast of Greece in April did not respond as the crew on board expected before going down into the Mediterranean Sea.

The finding was in a preliminary investigation report published Monday by the Royal Canadian Air Force, which did not provide a definitive answer for what caused the April 29 crash.

The report instead says investigators will now focus on both the Cyclone helicopter's various systems and what role "human factors" played in the crash. Military officials have previously said the full investigation could take up to a year.

Six members of the Canadian Armed Forces were on board when the Cyclone helicopter went down while deployed with the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton. All of them were killed.

The crash occurred shortly after the Cyclone, codenamed Stalker 22, flew past the Fredericton while returning from a routine training mission and conducting some additional training, according to the investigation report.

Officials have confirmed it also participated in a photo-op involving the frigate.

It then turned to set up for landing and, according to the report, "during this final complex manoeuvring turn to close with the ship, the aircraft did not respond as the crew would have anticipated.

"This event occurred at a low altitude, was unrecoverable and the aircraft entered a high energy descent and impacted the water astern the ship."

After the crash, the Air Force temporarily grounded the rest of the military's 17 Cyclone helicopters, which only became operational in 2018 after more than a decade of development challenges.

That "operational pause" will continue until a risk assessment on the fleet can be conducted," Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger said in a statement.

"With the co-operation of the directorate of flight safety, a team of airworthiness experts are working closely to develop a plan to methodically and safely return the fleet to operations," he said. "This is critical work and we will take the time to do it right."

MORE National ARTICLES

Air Canada Announces New Schedule Offering Customers Wide Choice of Destinations for Safe Travel this Summer and Expands Goodwill Policy

Air Canada Announces New Schedule Offering Customers Wide Choice of Destinations for Safe Travel this Summer and Expands Goodwill Policy
Air Canada is offering customers a choice of nearly 100 destinations in Canada, the U.S. and around the world with an abridged schedule this summer.

Air Canada Announces New Schedule Offering Customers Wide Choice of Destinations for Safe Travel this Summer and Expands Goodwill Policy

Vancouver Police report 'staggering' increase in Anti-Asian hate crimes

Vancouver Police report 'staggering' increase in Anti-Asian hate crimes
Anti-Asian racism has spiked since COVID-19 forced B.C. into a state of emergency in March and Vancouver police say that's driven an increase in hate crimes overall.

Vancouver Police report 'staggering' increase in Anti-Asian hate crimes

British Columbia records 18 new cases of COVID-19, three new deaths

British Columbia records 18 new cases of COVID-19, three new deaths
British Columbia recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the province's total number of active cases to 310.

British Columbia records 18 new cases of COVID-19, three new deaths

Surrey man caught driving impaired twice in one night

Surrey man caught driving impaired twice in one night
A 37-year-old Surrey man may be facing a long road through the court system after driving impaired twice in one night – only hours apart. On May 18, 2020 shortly before midnight, a Surrey RCMP Frontline officer came across a collision involving an SUV and a sedan in the area of 16 Avenue and 168 Street, and stopped to investigate.

Surrey man caught driving impaired twice in one night

Man charged with discharging a firearm

Man charged with discharging a firearm
A 31-year-old Surrey man has been arrested and charged with discharging a firearm with intent in relation to an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of Wednesay May 20, 2020, in Whalley.

Man charged with discharging a firearm

DARPAN list of top 5 vaccines on the race to find a cure for COVID-19

DARPAN list of top 5 vaccines on the race to find a cure for COVID-19
Darpan takes a look at the 5 vaccines that have blitzed the media as a potential drug to combat COVID-19

DARPAN list of top 5 vaccines on the race to find a cure for COVID-19