The US Navy has identified the five sailors who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of San Diego last week.
The victims are Lt. Bradley Foster, 29, a pilot from Oakhurst, California; Lt. Paul Fridley, 28, a pilot from Annandale, Virginia; Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class James Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia; Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri.
Foster, who was married and had a daughter, graduated from California State University Maritime Academy.
“Brad Foster represents the very best of Cal Maritime,both during his time at our academy and later in his service to the nation,” the school’s president, Tom Cropper, said in a statement.
“Enthusiastic, optimistic, and mature beyond his years, Brad took the road less traveled. I, like so many others in the Cal Maritime family, am heartbroken,” said Cropper.
Sunday’s identification comes a day after the Navy declared the sailors dead.
The victims went missing after the MH-603 Seahawk helicopter they were riding in plunged off the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and into the Pacific Ocean last Tuesday.
The crash occurred about 70 miles off the coast of San Diego during routine flight operations, the Navy has said.
In addition to the five victims, six sailors suffered injuries, one on the helicopter and five aboard the ship.
The injured were in stable condition Saturday, the Associated Press reported, citing Navy sources.
With Post wires
