The partial remains of a crew member originally from New Glasgow killed in a Canadian Armed Forces helicopter crash off Greece have been identified.
Capt. Brenden Ian MacDonald, one of two pilots on the Cyclone CH-148 helicopter, was among six military members killed in the accident April 29.
His remains were identified by the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario on Saturday, the Defence Department said in a news release.
“During the recovery efforts, partial remains were discovered and have now, through DNA testing, positively been identified,” the release said.
“Captain MacDonald’s family, and the families of the other crew members lost in the accident, have all been notified of this identification.”
MacDonald was remembered as “a natural pilot” by a former instructor at the Regional Gliding School in Debert.
“He was a very hard-working cadet that was very focused on his goal of becoming a pilot and moving on to be a career pilot with the RCAF,” Jamie Caudle told The Chronicle Herald.
The body of Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, another crew member on the helicopter, was previously recovered.
Still missing and presumed dead are Sub-Lit. Matthew Pyke, naval warfare officer, originally from Truro; Capt. Kevin Hagen, pilot, originally from Nanaimo, British Columbia; Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, air combat systems officer, originally from Trois-Rivières, Qué.; and Master Corp. Matthew Cousins, airborne electronic sensor operator, originally from Guelph, Ont.
“The CAF are providing our members and their families with as much support as possible, including a wide range of resources to help them through this difficult time,” the release said.
“A Royal Canadian Air Force flight safety team continues to investigate the circumstances of the accident while recovery efforts and search for additional remains will continue.
The Cyclone helicopter crashed during a routine training mission when it was returning to the Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton.
Six were killed in the crash. One body was recovered.
After the crash, partial remains were recovered but those could not be immediately identified. The remains were returned to Canada last week.