National Post (National Edition)
Search on for Canadian warship’s chopper off Greece
NEW CYCLONE
A Royal Canadian Air Force Cyclone helicopter is reported missing and the Canadian military says search and rescue operations have been launched.
Greek news outlets reported the helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of Greece.
The Canadian Forces confirmed on a social media account Wednesday that there was a “developing situation regarding our CH-148 Cyclone, deployed on board HMCS Fredericton.”
“Contact was lost with the aircraft as it was participating in Allied exercises off the coast of Greece,” it added in a tweet.
“Search and rescue efforts are currently underway,” the Twitter post noted. “As this is evolving, we have no further information to provide at this time.”
Greek news media, citing Greek defence ministry sources, stated the helicopter crashed in the Ionian Sea, west of the Greek mainland, on Wednesday evening.
Greek news reports noted that the helicopter was a CH-124 which had taken off from a Canadian frigate and crashed into the sea some 20 nautical miles outside Greek territorial waters west of Kefalonia island. But Canadian military sources confirm the crash involved a Cyclone helicopter.
Between three and six people on the helicopter are reported missing by Greek news outlets. The helicopter was taking part in a naval exercise underway by NATO Standing Maritime Group 2. That group is the alliance’s maritime immediate reaction force in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. It is comprised of four to six NATO destroyers and frigates.
NATO has launched a search and rescue operation for the helicopter crew and passengers.
HMCS Fredericton and its crew of 250 left Halifax on Jan. 20 to take part in a sixmonth deployment in the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Reassurance.
The frigate is equipped with a Cyclone helicopter from 12 Wing Shearwater.
As part of the NATO task force, the frigate is engaged in NATO’s defence efforts to assure central and eastern European countries that they are being supported in the face of aggression by Russian military forces and other threats in the region.
There was a large departure ceremony for HMCS Fredericton in Halifax involving families and relatives of the crew members. “The love and support of all the family members gathered here today is incredibly important,” Cdr. Blair Brown, Fredericton’s commanding officer told the navy newspaper The Trident. “I want to give a personal thank you to each and every one of them.”
The twin-engined Cyclone helicopter usually has a crew of four, which includes two pilots, one tactical coordinator and one sensor operator. But depending on its mission, the aircraft could carry up to 22 individuals. The RCAF operates 28 Cyclones.
The crew posted a photo of a crew member on duty as bridge watchkeeper on the frigate’s official Facebook account Wednesday.
On Tuesday, it put up a notice that the ship had “100 Days Down” on its mission. “Over 3 months ago, Fredericton left Halifax to join Standing NATO Maritime Group Two. For 100 days we have been Canada’s forward deployed unit, committed to our mission in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.”
The ship’s commander, Blair Brown, had noted in a message to family and friends how the crew would respond if a family member came down with the new coronavirus.
“We all appreciate that it is a difficult and very stressful time for our loved ones back home but please remember that supporting our members and our families during periods of critical illness is a priority for the CAF,” he explained, adding the ship would do its best to “return to Canada any member of the ship’s company, required on compassionate grounds.”
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