Crash killed Marine from Spokane
Lance Cpl. Nickoulas Elliott, 21, among seven who died in Arizona
A Spokane man was among the Marines killed in an aviation training accident in Arizona on Wednesday.
Lance Cpl. Nickoulas H. Elliott, 21, died along with six other Marines when two helicopters collided.
The Marine Corps released the names of all seven of the dead Marines late Friday, as crews worked to clean up the accident site on a sprawling desert range near Yuma, Ariz.
Details of the personal lives of the seven Marines killed in one of the Corps’ deadliest aviation training accidents in years began emerging Friday as families across the nation expressed their grief, but a Marines spokesman said Elliott’s family had not released a statement.
In addition to Elliott, the dead were listed as Maj. Thomas A. Budrejko, 37, of Montville, Conn.; Capt. Michael M. Quin, 28, of Purcellville, Va.; Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, Ala.; Sgt. Justin A. Everett, 33, of Clovis, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Marietta, Ga.; and Capt. Nathan W. Anderson, 32, of Amarillo, Texas.
Anderson was based in Yuma and the others were from Camp Pendleton in Southern California, the West Coast’s largest base.
“Every single one of these Marines impacted our squadron in their own special way, and the entire Marine Corps aviation community is feeling their tragic loss,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Lightfoot, commanding officer of the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469.
“I ask that you pray for the families and friends of the warriors we have lost.”
Officials said it could take weeks to determine what caused two helicopters, an AH-1W Cobra and a UH-1 Huey, to crash in midair during a routine exercise Wednesday night, killing all aboard the aircraft. Skies were clear and the weather was mild.
The accident occurred near the Chocolate Mountains along the California-Arizona border.
All the Marines were part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.