Midair helicopter collision kills 7 Marines in Arizona

Midair helicopter collision kills 7 Marines
From Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent
updated 11:13 AM EST, Thu February 23, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Spokesman: Marines onboard were preparing to deploy in Afghanistan
The Marine Corps says the collision occurred during routine training
A UH-1Y helicopter and an AH-1W helicopter crash midair
Authorities are investigating the collision

(CNN) -- Seven U.S. Marines have been killed in the midair collision of two U.S. military helicopters in southern Arizona, officials said Thursday.

The crash occurred during routine training operations Wednesday night at the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Maj. Carl B. Redding, Jr. of the Marine Corps said in a statement.

The collision involved an AH-1W "Super Cobra" attack helicopter and a UH-1Y "Huey" utility chopper, which the military has long used for a variety of tasks. They were part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Authorities were investigating the collision, which occurred in a remote area of a training range complex.

"We won't know exactly what happened until the investigation is complete, and we can't make any assumptions right now," said 1st Lt. Maureen Dooley, a Marine Corps spokeswoman.

The Marines onboard were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan, she said.
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UPDATE

Camp Pendleton Marines Killed in Yuma Crash Identified
The Marine Corps have released the names of the six local Marines killed in Tuesday's crash.
By Daniel Woolfolk
February 24, 2012

Maj. Thomas A. Budrejko, 37, of Montville, Conn.

Capt. Michael M. Quin, 28, of Purcellville, Va.

Sgt. Justin A. Everett, 33, of Clovis, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Marietta, Ga.

Lance Cpl. Nickoulas H. Elliott, 21, of Spokane, Wash.

Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, Ala.

Capt. Nathan W. Anderson, 32, of Amarillo, Texas

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FAMILIES, FRIENDS MOURN MARINES
One of those killed in accident was recently engaged, another was expecting a baby
By Matthew T. Hall & Nathan Max • U-T
Bonded by tragedy and buoyed by pride, loved ones of the Marines from a San Diego-based air wing who died in a helicopter training accident Wednesday shared their stories Friday.

One lived in San Marcos with his wife of two years and was expecting a baby. Another had just celebrated his 11-year wedding anniversary. A third was the son of a pastor. A fourth had flown three tours in Iraq and was preparing for what would have been his second deployment to Afghanistan. A fifth was recently engaged.

Six of the Marines were from Camp Pendleton. A seventh was from the Marine air station in Yuma.

As friends, family members and compatriots grieved, officials said it could take weeks to determine what caused an AH-1W Cobra and a UH-1Y Huey to crash in midair during an exercise over Imperial County, killing all seven aboard Wednesday night.

The weather was mild and the skies were clear that night. The helicopters went down about 8 p.m. during routine training on a military range between California and Arizona, about a 90-minute drive from Yuma Marine Corps Air Station.

The Marines came from the four corners of the United States.
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