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On the morning of November 12, 2020, a UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter crashed on a peacekeeping mission in Egypt, killing five United States Army soldiers, a French service member, and a Czech service member. Another U.S. Army soldier who sustained critical injuries in the crash was airlifted to an Israeli hospital for treatment.
Reports indicate the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter experienced a mechanical malfunction before crashing in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh, an Egyptian resort city on the Red Sea. "A full investigation of the cause of the crash, which appears to be mechanical in nature, has been launched," officials said following the Black Hawk crash.
While the official cause of the UH-60 helicopter crash may not be known for a year or more, early indications point to mechanical failure of the Black Hawk helicopter itself or one of its component parts as potential causes or factors in the fatal crash. If true, Sikorsky Aircraft, the manufacturer of the UH-60 helicopter, or any component part manufacturer responsible may be subject to litigation.
“Based on what we’ve learned in the early stages of this crash investigation, it seems clear that these service members faced an insurmountable challenge dealing with an apparent mechanical failure,” says Timothy A. Loranger, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman’s lead military accident attorney. “We believe this tragic crash was preventable.”
If you or a member of your family has been harmed in a military helicopter crash and would like to speak with an experienced military accident attorney and Marine Corps veteran, please fill out our contact form or call (855) 948-5098 today.
Army Identifies Service Members Killed in Egypt Helicopter Crash
The deceased service members were on a peacekeeping mission for the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), an international force that has maintained a presence in the Sinai Peninsula since 1981, three years after the Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement. The U.S. element of the MFO, known as Task Force Sinai, currently has 452 service members out of the 1,145 total peacekeepers in the region.
Officials have identified the service members who tragically lost their lives:
- Capt. Seth Vernon Vandekamp, 31, from Katy, Texas.
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dallas Gearld Garza, 34, from Fayetteville, North Carolina. CWO Garza is survived by his three children, a fiancé, his parents, and sister.
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 Marwan Sameh Ghabour, 27, from Marlborough, Massachusetts. CWO Ghabour is survived by his parents and brother.
- Staff Sergeant Kyle Robert McKee, 35, from Painesville, Ohio. Staff Sgt. McKee is survived by his two children and his wife, who is expecting the couple’s third child.
- Sergeant Jeremy Cain Sherman, 23, from Watseka, Illinois. Sgt. Sherman is survived by his wife and mother.
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sébastien Botta, 21, from France. Lt. Col. Botta was head of the MFO liaison office.
- Sergeant Michaela Ticha, Czech Republic.
Vandekamp, Garza, McKee, and Sherman were all active-duty U.S. Army soldiers. Ghabour was a U.S. Army reservist engaged in a yearlong deployment as part of the MFO peacekeeping force.
Military Helicopter Accident Attorneys with Experience
Men and women who serve our country in uniform depend on the highest quality aircraft and component parts to help them protect and defend the United States of America. While they risk their lives in service of our country, that risk should not include dealing with mechanical failures that result from design or manufacturing defects or negligent aircraft maintenance performed by civilian contractors.
Unfortunately, mechanical failures and poor maintenance too often lead to preventable military helicopter crashes that result in injuries and death. If you or a member of your family have been harmed in a military accident and would like to speak with an experienced attorney, please give us a call at (855) 948-5098 today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
The national law firm of Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is honored to represent brave men and women from our Armed Forces. While service members are not eligible to pursue claims against the United States military for injuries or death in military accidents, they may still be able to bring a lawsuit against the manufacturers of an aircraft or component part that caused or contributed to a military accident. The same can be said for any negligent third-party whose negligence or recklessness contributed to an accident.
Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman’s lead military accident attorney is Timothy A. Loranger, a Marine Corps veteran who served overseas during Operations Desert Shield and Storm. Tim has vast experience holding accountable entities that needlessly put service members in harm’s way, including multiple military helicopter cases stemming from crashes and incidents on U.S. soil and abroad. Put your case in the hands of professionals with a proven track record of success litigating cases on behalf of military service members.
To speak with a lawyer about filing a claim, please call us at (855) 948-5098