Schofield pilots injured in Bosnia chopper crash

Associated Press

Military officials are investigating a helicopter crash in Bosnia last week that involved two Schofield Barracks pilots.

Capts. Beau Tibbits and Darren Musico, both of the 25th

Aviation Regiment unit, suffered minor injuries when their

OH-58D Kiowa helicopter crashed during a routine training mission, said 25th Infantry Division spokesman Troy Griffin.

The helicopter was on a training mission when it crashed near the village of Vozuca in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 4, the Army said.

The helicopter struck some high-tension wires, made a hard landing, tipped over and came to rest within 400 yards of a marked minefield.

A safety board investigation as well as an internal investigation by 25th Aviation Regiment are under way to determine accountability and whether any of the pilots will be disciplined, the Army said.

More than 1,000 25th Division soldiers left Hawai'i on March 4 for six months of peacekeeping duties in Bosnia.

The Tropic Lightning soldiers are a part of Task Force Eagle, which also includes Army National Guard members from Idaho, Montana, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Task Force Eagle was formed in 1995 following the NATO-imposed cease-fire that ended the four-year Balkan war.