Defence Department confirms witnesses to chopper crash
Cockpit voice recorder and data recorder from fatal wreck also will be examined
The Department of National Defence has revealed there were eyewitnesses to the crash of a Canadian Forces Cyclone helicopter last week and those individuals will be interviewed as part of the investigation.
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the helicopter are now in Ottawa where they will be examined as part of efforts to determine what caused the crash that killed six.
The aircraft recording equipment is at the National Research Council and will be analyzed there, Department of National Defence spokesman Dan LeBouthillier stated in an email.
“The Beacon Airfoil Unit, which contains the memory modules for the Cockpit Voice Recorder / Flight Data Recorder, was airlifted to Canada where it is being analyzed by the National Research Council,” he said. “It would be premature to discuss any details about their analysis at this time.
“Also, we can confirm there were eyewitnesses to the accident,” he added. “As part of their investigation, the Flight Safety investigation team will conduct interviews with these eyewitnesses.”
The new information Monday about the eyewitnesses, contained in reports from CBC and The Canadian Press, follows initial military reports that the Cyclone helicopter was missing after contact with HMCS Fredericton was lost, suggesting the aircraft was far from the warship when it went down in the Ionian Sea.
But CBC reported the Cyclone was only moments away from landing aboard HMCS Fredericton when it went down if full view of shipmates who were preparing to receive it aboard the frigate.
The body of Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough will arrive back in Canada on Wednesday.
There will be a repatriation ceremony for her at CFB Trenton in the afternoon. Also to be honoured at the same time are the five other Canadian Forces personnel who are now presumed dead.
With files from The Canadian Press