Thu, Mar 08, 2012 Charges Dropped Against USCG Helo Pilot

Sole Survivor Of 2010 Accident Had Been Charged With Negligent Homicide.

Following a December hearing, the Coast Guard has dismissed negligent homicide and other charges that were pending against Lt. Lance Leone. Leone was co-pilot of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter (similar aircraft pictured) which went down off the coast of Washington State. He was the only survivor.

Leone had also been charged with dereliction of duty and destruction of government property. The aircraft and crew were enroute to their base in Sitka, AK from Astoria, OR, when the accident occurred.

All charges were dropped on the recommendations of an investigating officer. Those fatally injured in the accident were pilot Sean Krueger and crewmen Brett Banks and Adam C. Hoke. The negligent homicide charges stemmed from the deaths of the two non-pilot crewmen.

Source: 06 March 2012 - uscg.mil News

Photo: Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters flying in formation in this file photo. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA1 Kurt Fredrickson)

(8.03.2012)