All remains in helicopter crash now identified

OTTAWA — The remains of four of the six Canadian Armed Forces members who died when a Cyclone helicopter crashed into the Ionian Sea off Greece in April have been identified.

The Department of National Defence said the remains were positively identified Thursday by the chief coroner for Ontario.

They include Capt. Kevin Hagen, a pilot from Nanaimo; Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, an air combat systems officer from Becancour, Que.; Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, a naval warfare officer from Truro, N.S.; and Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, an airborne electronic sensor operator from Guelph, Ont.

The remains were found during a combined search-and-recovery operation with the United States Navy conducted between May 25 and June 2.

The military said the families of all crew members lost in the accident have been notified and the remains will be released to the families in the coming days.

Ceremonial arrangements are being planned by the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force.

The remains of Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, a marine systems engineering officer from Toronto, were previously identified shortly after the accident. Partial remains of Capt. Brenden MacDonald, a pilot from New Glasgow, N.S., were originally identified on May 9.

Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, extended his “heartfelt” sympathies to the families of the crash victims.

“I hope today’s news provides some comfort and closure to each of you,” McDonald said. “These have been dark days and these events have reminded us all of the perils of service at sea and in the skies above.”

Lt.-General Al Meinzinger, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, also extended his sympathies. “Together, we’ll honour and remember the legacies of our fallen, while also standing behind those who will pick up their torch and carry on with the mission,” Meinzinger said.

A Royal Canadian Air Force flight safety investigation into the circumstances of the accident is continuing. The investigation is currently focused on aircraft systems and human factors as possible causes of the crash. This month, the military said the helicopter did not respond to something the way the crew expected.

In announcing a resumption of Cyclone flights last week, Air Force officials said investigators have been able to recreate the circumstances surrounding the crash using information from the Cyclone’s flight-data recorders.

The problem occurred as the helicopter was coming around to land on HMCS Fredericton, officials said. The pilot tried to make several manoeuvres while the Cyclone’s autopilot was still engaged. Rather than turning off, the autopilot started to work against the pilot.