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Two Idaho National Guard Pilots Die In Helicopter Crash Near Boise Airport

Idaho National Guard

This story was updated Nov. 7 at 12:00 p.m.

The Idaho National Guard has identified the two soldiers who were killed Thursday near Gowen Field when their Apache helicopter crashed.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Stien P. Gearheart, 50, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jon L. Hartway, 43, were killed when the helicopter they were piloting crashed during night training. Gearheart was from Meridian, Hartway was from Kuna. 

The Guard says both men were part of the 1-183rd Attack Reconnaissance Battalion based in Boise.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter released a statement Friday morning mourning the loss of the two soldiers.

"Their loved ones and brothers and sisters in arms are in our thoughts and prayers. This tragedy reminds us of the enormous sacrifice and great risk involved in military service," Otter said in a statement. "I ask all Idahoans to join me in honoring these courageous citizen soldiers along with all those who have gone before them in the defense of the liberties we hold so dear."

Credit Darin Oswald / Idaho Statesman
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Idaho Statesman
The crash happened just after dark Nov. 6, 2014.

The original story was posted Nov. 6 at 11:32 p.m.

The Idaho Army National Guard says two of its pilots died in a helicopter crash near the Boise airport Thursday night.

Col. Tim Marsano, a Guard spokesman, says the AH-64D Apache helicopter crashed around 7 p.m. about two miles south of the airport. The helicopter had been based at Gowen Field.

Marsano says the cause of the crash isn't known yet. The pilots were on a training mission when the helicopter went down.

“The men and women of the Idaho National Guard are united in grief at the loss of two of our brothers in arms, who gave their lives while training to defend our nation,” said Idaho National Guard Commander, Major General Gary Sayler in a press release sent to media outlets late Thursday night. “Today, our thoughts and prayers are with their families.”

The Guard isn't releasing the names of the victims so family members can be notified. No other details are being released.

Follow Scott Graf on Twitter @ScottGrafRadio

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