INSIDER
Funeral services held for San Antonio soldier killed in helicopter crash in Egypt
Read full article: Funeral services held for San Antonio soldier killed in helicopter crash in EgyptSAN ANTONIO – Family, friends and military leaders came together Wednesday to honor the life of a San Antonio soldier who died in a helicopter crash while on a peacekeeping mission in Egypt. A funeral service for CW3 Dallas Gerald Garza was held Wednesday at Community Bible Church. A French peacekeeper and Czech officer also were killed, and a sixth American on the helicopter was injured. Garza served in the United States Army for 14 years. RELATED: Katy, Texas soldier among five killed in Egypt helicopter crash
Fallen soldier’s San Antonio family shares his legacy to inspire others
Read full article: Fallen soldier’s San Antonio family shares his legacy to inspire othersSAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio family is sharing the legacy of one of the soldiers who died in a helicopter crash Thursday as a way to encourage others. “He had six more years to go,” said David Garza Jr, his father and army veteran. He served his country honorably.”Growing up in a military family, Garza was always an overachiever, striving to be the best. “When he graduated flight school, we went down there and, not to our surprise, he was top of everything,” said David Garza Jr. “Top of PT. “Our family, our military family, the aviation community, the Army,” said Maria De Jesus Garza.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shares photos of employees killed in helicopter crash
Read full article: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shares photos of employees killed in helicopter crashBREWSTER COUNTY, Texas – Officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shared photos of the three employees killed in a helicopter crash in West Texas on Saturday. The three men killed in the crash are Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge, Fish and Wildlife Technician Brandon White, and State Wildlife Veterinarian Robert Dittmar. The helicopter was in the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep when the crash occurred. Stockbridge was the lead wildlife biologist at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area just south of Alpine. Original Report: 3 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees killed in helicopter crash during bighorn sheep survey
Family honors adored Kerrville veterinarian killed in Texas Parks and Wildlife helicopter crash
Read full article: Family honors adored Kerrville veterinarian killed in Texas Parks and Wildlife helicopter crashKERRVILLE, Texas – Community members in Kerrville and people across Texas are heartbroken over the loss of adored local veterinarian and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) employee Dr. Robert Dittmar. Dr. Dittmar was incredibly supportive of his children and grandchildren’s involvement in 4H and FFA clubs. Dr. David Cardwell, who worked alongside Dr. Dittmar for 25 years and owns the vet clinic, said he was distraught when he heard the news. “He was a fabulous veterinarian, but what drew him to Texas Parks and Wildlife was the bighorn sheep. “He deserved all of it.”The two other team members who died in the crash are Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge and Fish and Wildlife Technician Brandon White.
3 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees killed in helicopter crash during bighorn sheep survey
Read full article: 3 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees killed in helicopter crash during bighorn sheep surveyAUSTIN, Texas – Three Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees were killed in a helicopter crash while conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep in West Texas, according to TPWD officials. The victims of the crash were identified as Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge, Fish and Wildlife Technician Brandon White, and State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Bob Dittmar, of Kerrville, according to the TPWD. “No words can begin to express the depth of sadness we feel for the loss of our colleagues in this tragic accident,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director, in a statement. Wildlife conservation in Texas lost three of its finest as they so honorably and dutifully carried out their calling to help survey, monitor and protect the bighorns of their beloved west Texas mountains. Dan Patrick also offered condolences to the families of the crash victims.
Text messages before the flight that killed Kobe Bryant appear to show pilot became disoriented in fog
Read full article: Text messages before the flight that killed Kobe Bryant appear to show pilot became disoriented in fog(CNN) -- Text messages in the hours before the helicopter flight that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people show weather conditions were a concern and that the pilot appeared to become disoriented in fog. Before every flight with Bryant, a group text was always created in order to keep everyone in communication about the flights. That group text mentioned weather concerns prior to the flight, but they were dismissed by both the pilot and the flight coordinator. The conversation around weatherRecords show the flight coordinator asked the aircraft pilot, Ara Zobayan, about the forecast one day before the scheduled flight. In the past three years, four Island Express employees were approved to fly a Kobe Inc. charter flight: Zobayan, Garret Dalton, David Harvey and Josh Bagge.
Kobe Bryant’s pilot had no alcohol or drugs in system, autopsy finds
Read full article: Kobe Bryant’s pilot had no alcohol or drugs in system, autopsy findsCALABASAS, California – The pilot of the helicopter that crashed in January, killing Kobe Bryant and all eight other people aboard, had no alcohol or drugs in his system that day, according to an autopsy report. Ara Zobayan was piloting the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter on the morning of January 26 when it went down on a hillside in Calabasas, California. Toxicology screens tested for cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana and alcohol among others, according to reports from the Los Angeles County coroner. Zobayan, 50, was an instrument-certified pilot who earned his commercial pilot's license in 2007, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's pilot certification database. He was a certified flight instructor for instrument instruction for helicopter pilots, the records show.
Houston officer injured in helicopter crash now serious
Read full article: Houston officer injured in helicopter crash now seriousHOUSTON – A Houston police officer injured in a police helicopter crash that killed another officer was in serious condition Sunday at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center, according to spokesperson Natasha Barrett. Chase Cormier, 35, was upgraded from critical condition following surgery after the early Saturday morning crash that police said caused fatal injuries to Officer Jason Knox, 35, the son of Houston City Council Member Mike Knox. Six people were arrested in connection with gunfire in the area about an hour after the crash, according to Acevedo. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash, along with a homicide investigation by Houston police. More on the crash:Aerial footage shows aftermath of helicopter crash that killed Houston officer, critically injured anotherHouston police helicopter crashes.
Officials: 9 victims, including Kobe Bryant, daughter, killed in helicopter crash
Read full article: Officials: 9 victims, including Kobe Bryant, daughter, killed in helicopter crashCALABASAS, CALIFORNIA – Update:The LA Sheriff’s Department says the pilot and eight others died as a result of the helicopter crash in California. Although several outlets have reported that Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were victims of the crash, the sheriff’s office would not confirm the victim’s identities. Original:CNN - Basketball legend Kobe Bryant, 41, died Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, sources confirm to CNN. Five people were killed in the crash on a hillside in Calabasas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. President Donald Trump tweeted about Bryant’s death in the crash, “That is terrible news!”Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California.
Houston mourns loss of former assistant coach that died in helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant
Read full article: Houston mourns loss of former assistant coach that died in helicopter crash with Kobe BryantHOUSTON – John Altobelli, a former University of Houston letterwinner and assistant coach, is among the nine people, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, that was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning in southern California. Altobelli’s wife and his daughter were also killed in the crash, according to the University of Houston. “John was a huge supporter of the Cougars and numerous players from Orange Coast College have played for us through the years.”Houston mourns the passing of former letterwinner & assistant coach John Altobelli. Altobelli was entering his 28th season as the head coach at Orange Coast College, where he was the longest-tenured baseball coach in school history. OCC baseball team mourning loss of coach John Altobelli in helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant.
Officials: Pilot airlifted, hospitalized after helicopter crash in Atascosa County
Read full article: Officials: Pilot airlifted, hospitalized after helicopter crash in Atascosa CountyATASCOSA COUNTY, TEXAS – A pilot was hospitalized after a helicopter crash in Atascosa County Friday afternoon. The crash happened near the intersection of County Road 312 and County Road 309, north of Charlotte. Officials say the pilot was airlifted from the scene and is receiving treatment at University Hospital. Alamo Heights High School graduate among victims of fatal plane crash in AustraliaNo word yet on what caused the crash. We’ll bring more updates as they become available.
Helicopter with 3 people on board hits power line, makes crash landing in street
Read full article: Helicopter with 3 people on board hits power line, makes crash landing in streetHelicopter with 3 people on board hits power line, makes crash landing in streetPublished: December 14, 2019, 10:09 pmThe helicopter landed near the intersection of South Presa and East Southcross streets Saturday evening, according to the San Antonio police officer Brandon Pratt.