An Army officer seems to have crashed one Black Hawk helicopter, then run to a different that he subsequently crashed, triggering a big explosion and killing himself, in line with the service’s investigation right into a 2022 incident — elements of which had been obtained by Army.com. Investigators dominated the dying a suicide.
Simply earlier than 2 a.m. on March 30, 2022, emergency crews swiftly responded to a crashed helicopter at a Fort Stewart, Georgia, airfield. Whereas assessing the damages and frantically looking for casualties, fireplace crews heard a second plane explode.
The subsequent day, the Army mentioned Capt. James Bellew, 26, had died within the incident, however declined on the time to supply additional particulars about what had occurred or say if he had taken his personal life.
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Based on redacted sections of the investigation launched on Wednesday to Army.com as a part of a public data request, Bellew made “informal” inquiries the day earlier than the crashes on whether or not a soldier’s household would obtain life insurance coverage after a suicide and whether or not a household can be held financially responsible for damages to Army gear. Investigators mentioned Bellew’s roommates, whose names had been redacted, additionally mentioned that Bellew had requested whether or not “somebody may entry an plane alone with out anybody noticing.”
Early on the morning of March 30, air visitors controllers known as for first responders after seeing sparks on the tarmac they believed had been brought on by helicopter blades smashing into the floor. One of many air visitors controllers advised investigators he noticed an individual run from that first Black Hawk to a second helicopter earlier than the latter took off. That second craft subsequently crashed and exploded.
Bellew’s romantic associate contacted the Purple Cross shortly earlier than the incident, saying she obtained messages and a name from Bellew, a medical officer, saying he deliberate to finish his life. A search of his belongings after his dying revealed messages from family and friends involved about his psychological well being, self-help studying materials and a handwritten word with statements of affirmation, in line with the Army investigation, which concluded in August 2022.
The paperwork obtained by Army.com mentioned Bellew had no historical past of recognized psychological sickness or suicidal ideation.
The Army has lengthy struggled with figuring out and treating troopers affected by psychological sickness or going by way of struggles that may result in suicide. With a scarcity of psychological well being counselors, entry to assets differs from base to base because the Army faces an uphill battle staffing its hospitals whereas competing with the personal sector. The Army additionally has no clear coverage on figuring out suicidal ideation or servicewide programs on intervention.
Some installations have needed to revert to advert hoc insurance policies, resembling Fort Liberty, North Carolina, not releasing troopers from in-patient care forward of weekends or holidays; and Fort Drum, New York, placing assets in relationship and monetary counseling.
In Might, Army.com reported on an incident involving Army Spc. Austin Valley, who died by suicide solely a month after he made an preliminary try on his life. At Fort Riley, Kansas, Valley seemingly obtained no constant care and was underneath just about no supervision. He scheduled a psychological well being appointment off-base that he supposed to pay for out of pocket, however he died earlier than the appointment.
Bellew was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, third Aviation Regiment, third Fight Aviation Brigade, third Infantry Division. He had served at Fort Stewart since 2018, after beforehand being stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea. He grew to become an aeromedical evacuation officer in 2019.
Bellew was a platoon chief in his firm, the place his each day duties included medical evacuations at Fort Stewart, together with shifting critically ailing COVID-19 sufferers to off-post medical services. His awards embrace an Army Achievement Medal, Army Aviator Badge and the Skilled Area Medical Badge.
Veterans and repair members experiencing a psychological well being emergency can contact the Veteran Disaster Line at 988, Press 1. Additionally they can textual content 838255 or chat on-line at VeteransCrisisLine.internet.
— Steve Beynon could be reached at Steve.Beynon@army.com. Observe him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.
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