Fort Bliss Southwest Med Evac Helicopter Crash Kills 3

Three were killed when a medical evacuation helicopter crashed during a training exercise at Fort Bliss, Army authorities said.

The Southwest Med Evac helicopter crashed on final approach to a landing zone during a scheduled training session at the McGregor Range, according to a statement from Las Cruces, N.M.-based Southwest Med Evac, a unit of Addison-based Omniflight Helicopters.

The company said the three crew members on board were the pilot, William Montgomery, of Avondale, Ariz., and paramedics John Sutter, of Las Cruces, N.M., and Anthony Archuleta, of El Paso.

Anthony DiNota, president and COO of Omniflight Helicopters, said the cause of the crash was not yet known.  Federal investigators, including from the National Transportation Safety Board, were at the scene.

Southwest Med Evac is a contracted to Fort Bliss for emergency medical services.