The four first responders that died Saturday July 16 when a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crashed northeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico have been identified: Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King.
They all worked for the Sheriff’s Department except for Mr. King who was with the Bernalillo County Fire Department.
The Sheriff’s Department said in a news release July 17 that the “Metro 2” helicopter and its crew were assisting with a wildfire in the area, providing bucket drops and other air logistics needs to fire crews on the ground.
The helicopter, a Bell UH-1H Huey, N911SZ, was destroyed.
More information about the flight is in our first article about the incident.
From the article releasing news about the crash it sounds like they had completed their assist mission and were headed home.
RIP Gentlemen.
Something isn’t adding up here. Bucket drops? Undersheriff on board?
I’m wondering what the mission was for that particular flight.
I believe Mr. Koren was the pilot. He pretty much had to be on board. It is a grey area as to who should or should not be on board for return from mission flights in un-type certificated aircraft during PAOs. Were they qualified non- crew members? Were the others on board because it was convenient or was it the only way back? It could and probably should be argued that they were all agency employees involved in public safety and returning to base is simply part of getting ready for the next mission.
See comments here:
https://wildfiretoday.com/2022/07/18/names-released-of-four-first-responders-killed-in-new-mexico-helicopter-crash/#comments