Airman dies in CH-46 helicopter crash

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Capt. Kermit Evans, an Air Force civil engineer explosive ordnance flight commander, was killed as a result of a U.S. Marine helicopter emergency water landing Dec. 3.

Captain Evans was one of 16 people aboard the Marine CH-46 helicopter when it made an emergency water landing near the shore of Lake Qadisiyah in western Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Twelve people survived, while Captain Evans and three other servicemembers did not survive. The incident does not appear to be a result of enemy action and is currently under investigation.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Evans family as they grieve the tragic loss of this Airman warrior, husband, father, son and brother" said Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces. "Anytime we lose an Airman, our entire Air Force family feels the loss."

Captain Evans was from the 27th Civil Engineer Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and deployed to the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group, a unit of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad Air Base, Iraq.

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