Crash victims identified

  • Published
Air Force officials have identified the airmen killed in the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan on March 23.

The airmen were deployed from here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Killed in the crash were:

-- 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta, co-pilot.

-- Staff Sgt. Jason Hicks, flight engineer.

-- Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, pararescueman.

-- Senior Airman Jason Plite, pararescueman.

-- Lt. Col. John Stein, aircraft commander.

-- Staff Sgt. John Teal, flight engineer.

Archuleta, Hicks, Stein and Teal were assigned to the 41st Rescue Squadron. Maltz and Plite were assigned to the 38th RQS.

"The Air Force is a close-knit family and the loss of one of our own affects us all," said Brig. Gen. John H. Folkerts, 347th Rescue Wing commander. "We wish to express our deepest condolences to family members of these brave airmen and want them to know that we will not forget the valuable contributions they made to this country and the impact they made on the Air Force."

A memorial service will be held here March 27.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.