Marine Corps Names Crew in Kuwait Copter Accident

The U.S. Marine Corps on Thursday identified a serviceman from Ohio who was killed and three others, including two from Irvine, who were injured when their Sea Knight helicopter caught fire in flight over Kuwait.

All three were with a squadron based at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Killed was Marine Cpl. Matthew J. Michalec, 23, of Mogadore, Ohio. The injured were Capt. Michael S. Jackson, 30, and Cpl. James M. McGuinness, 26, both of Irvine, and Capt. Mathew S. Vlasak, 27, of Aurora, Ohio.

Jackson was the pilot aboard the CH-46 Sea Knight, which took off Monday from the amphibious assault ship Tarawa in the Persian Gulf. The training mission was classified as routine. When the craft caught fire, Jackson made an emergency landing 25 miles northwest of Kuwait City.

The injured men were returned to the ship. Two were treated and released, and the third is in stable condition, said Master Sgt. Dewayne Washington, public affairs spokesman for Camp Pendleton.

The helicopter belonged to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163, serving as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Camp Pendleton.

There are about 20,000 U.S. troops deployed in the Gulf region, many of them on ships. Many are part of an international contingent enforcing the “no-fly” zone over southern Iraq that has been in place since the end of the 1991 Gulf War.

Vlasak was the co-pilot of the CH-46. McGuinness was crew chief and Michalec was an aerial observer.

An investigation was ongoing to determine cause of the accident.