Vancouver Island pilot among 5 crew missing in fatal military helicopter crash near Greece
Capt. Kevin Hagen is missing after helicopter crash during NATO operations
A pilot from Vancouver Island is among five crew members missing after a Canadian military helicopter crashed during NATO operations near Greece.
Canadian officials confirmed Capt. Kevin Hagen, born in Nanaimo, was one of six crew members on board the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter when it crashed in international waters between Greece and Italy on Wednesday.
"All I can say is that Kevin was a perfect brother," said Kyle Hagen in a statement posted on social media.
"Every day I felt his unwavering love, acceptance, and support. Even though he was younger, I looked up to him immensely. I can't express how painful this is and will miss him forever," he added.
Kyle Hagen said Kevin lived in Ladysmith, Victoria and on Quadra Island over the years.
5 missing, 1 dead
Kevin Hagen and four other crew members are considered missing. Federal officials confirmed Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, a maritime systems engineering officer originally from Toronto, was killed in the crash.
The six members were on a six-month deployment, which began in January. HMCS Fredericton and NATO allies are searching for all five members of the helicopter's crew.
The other missing crew members are:
- Capt. Brenden MacDonald, a pilot originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
- Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, an air combat systems officer originally from Trois-Rivières, Québec.
- Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, a naval weapons officer originally from Truro, Nova Scotia.
- Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, an airborne electronic sensor operator originally from Guelph, Ontario.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Thursday no stones would be left unturned during the investigation into the crash.
"An investigative team has been sent into the region," Sajjan told CBC's On the Coast. "The voice and data recorders have been recovered ... we're coordinating with all our allies to make sure that all the support necessary are given to the commanders on the ground so the search can continue."
"But it's too early to determine what's happened, and the team will conduct a thorough investigation to make sure the families get the answers they need," he added.
Sajjan called the crash "a painful reminder of the dangers that members of Canada's military face every day to ensure the safety and security of Canadians."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there will be many questions in the coming days about the events leading up to the tragedy.
"I can assure you, we will get answers in due course," Trudeau said at a news conference early Thursday.
Investigation ongoing
Aircraft from Canada, Italy and Turkey, with support from Greece and the U.S., are searching for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.
Canadian military officials said crews are prepared to work through the night. Weather conditions have been favourable, but the crash area is wide and challenging.
"A search on the ocean is always very difficult, even in relatively calm conditions. Very small objects in the water are very difficult to find over long periods of time as wind and current expands the search area," said Rear Admiral Craig Baines, maritime commander for the Royal Canadian Navy.
"So, even in perfect conditions, it is a difficult thing to do a search on the water. But they are continuing, and they will continue to search as long as they still believe there is an opportunity to find survivors."
Meanwhile, the Cyclone fleet has been put on "operational pause" temporarily to allow flight safety teams to investigate and rule out any fleet-wide problems. Baines added the helicopter fleet is modern and has "state-of-the-art" technology.