Comments about ‘Crew 'very lucky' — All on Coast Guard chopper survive crash in Uintas’

Vancouver BC to NC... That's a long flight in a helicopter. Wonder why they didn't just ship the asset by sea or in a fixed wing craft better suited for long journeys.

It's a common practice. That aircraft has long "legs" which enable it to transit across country from places such as San Diego and Kodiak, AK.

Because sea transfer would be 10x as long...and these jayhawks are made to fly long distances. They fly over oceans and grand bodies of water...

One of best ships I ever flew.
Best of luck to the crew.

"Visibility, due to snow and wind, was minimal," (Wasatch County Sheriff Todd Bonner) said.

WHY? Stay grounded, or land someplace. How hard is that?

A federal agency's helicopter crashes. It crashes on federally owned land - Forest Service to be exact. The federal government's deficit is bloated and dwarfs the budget of poor tiny little Wasatch County.

But who does the rescuing?

Wasatch County.

The feds push us around and won't manage Forest Service lands consistent with the wishes of Wasatch County leaders. But when its crash time, the feds are more than happy to recieve our assistance at our expense.

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad the County resources were there to rescue these federal agents, and the County would and should do this every time.

But the utter hypocrisy of the federal government is worth pointing out at times like this: They shove state and local government wishes aside on how to manage that land, but they sheepishly stand by and watch while the County does the tough work of search and rescue.

Federal Hypocrisy. It is something to behold.

It seems dangerous to expect these pilots to fly through the mountains in this weather. I hope all are ok in the end & I hope the military reviews its policy for these type of flights.

With so little known about this at this point it is amazing that there is already so much critisim. These aren't novices, these decisions aren't made blindly. Let's let some investigation take place before ragging on these poor folks.

Cost Guard aslo has rescue swimmers which that is why the helicopter. That is how they save people.

You can't always just land. You have to have a place to land and the weather was fine when they left other wise they would have stayed grounded in the first place or taken another route. The weather can change so easily in a instant.

Feel better now? That was quite a rant. I guess you'd like to have federal search and rescue personnel in every town? Then you'd complain that there are too many federal employees like your hero Jason Chaffetz.

The federal government will pay a salvage company to remove the helicopter. They will mitigate environmental damage, and will pay the medical bills for the Coast Guard personnel who were injured.

Give it a rest.

Why is it that you all seem to think it was weather related?
I have not read or herd anything that said it was due to weather.
Why not wait untill you know why it went down before you say things you know nothing about!

And we will be happy to rescue you any time you might be in trouble on the ocean, no matter what county you're from and no matter what your views of the federal govt. I'm glad that the nearest rescue crews were able to save the lives of my fellow aircrew members and hope we are able to return the favor some day. I can only hope we never live in the world you apparently envision where where the nearest rescue crews allow fellow lifesavers to die because of who owned the land where the crash happened to occur!

God Bless our Military men and women. We should be thanking them and be thankful for them every day of our lives and theirs. Regardless of where they are stationed, whether domestically or overseas, or what their duty is at the moment, their job is to serve, protect and defend us. The sacrifice that they and their families make is astounding and I am forever grateful!

"Bonner said weather may have been a factor in the crash."

Third paragraph.

Bob read the article!

Well, Bob, you may want to read the article again it references the weather in the story.

Good to hear that all escaped with their lives. Hopefully all will recover, especially the two with more serious injuries.

We are in the Coast Guard, Stationed in E-City and are anxiously awaiting more news. My husband use to fly the HH-60's and we probably know some (if not all) of the brave crew. Let's just all say a prayer for them.

Good Job Summit and Wasatch Counties thanks for all your help and we are proud to work with you. Give us a call if ya need a hand.... Duchesne County.

So, why was a US Coast Guard asset 'protecting' the Canadian Olympics? I know the proximity to the US border, but this is the job of the RCMP or Provincial Police. I am glad to hear the US taxpayer paid the bill.

Deficits? What are those? Granted this is a small item, but add up all the waste in the government and it becomes a sizeable amount.

In spite of my rant, I am grateful there weren't any deaths.