Third soldier identified in Army helicopter crash off Kaena Point
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Honolulu police and firemen returned to Haleiwa Boat Harbor where the Army has set up their command center for the search and rescue operations for the Blackhawk helicopter that went down off of Kaena Point. A third soldier involved in the crash was idenified as Stephen Cantrell of Wichita Falls, Texas.
A family member has identified the third soldier of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that went down off of Kaena Point as Stephen Cantrell of Wichita Falls, Texas.
He is a 2003 Hirschi High School graduate.
The Army has not released the names of the five missing soldiers, however, relatives have identified two other soldiers of the helicopter as Abigail Milam and Brian Woeber.
The search and rescue operations continue today for the crew who were reported missing off of Kaena Point at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night during a night-training mission with another Black Hawk helicopter. The soldiers are with the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment.
An immediate search was initiated where Coast Guard and Army air crews spotted a debris field near Kaena Point shortly before 11:30 p.m. that night.
The Honolulu Fire Department’s rescue boat recovered a piece of fuselage and a helmet Wednesday and turned it over to the Army.
The Navy, Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and Ocean Safety & Lifeguard Services Division are also part of the multi-agency search effort.
The search area has expanded to 50 miles off of Kaena Point where the Coast Guard’s fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter and vessels scoured the waters throughout the night.
