Fixing collateral damage: Army to pay for hangar’s demolition

Published 7:55 pm Monday, October 22, 2018

BEAUMONT — The Army apparently will pay for the demolition of hangar No. 3 at Jack Brooks Regional Airport, airport manager Alex Rupp said.

“(The Army) has not indicated otherwise,” Rupp said Monday.

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On Dec. 3, 2017, a CH-47 Chinook Army helicopter blade struck the side of hangar No. 3, causing debris to hit and puncture a nearby hangar. Hangar No. 3 was damaged beyond repair.

Rupp said he did not know the total cost of the projects, but said repairs to the hangar that was damaged by debris should begin in about 75 days. Demolition of Hangar No. 3 will follow.

The helicopter was at the airport following Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey.

Following the crash, the Army released a statement that said the crash would be investigated, but the results of the investigation would not be released because of limitations set forth by Department of Defense instructions and Army regulations.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said the accident was a result of human error.

“It was some of the military that was involved in the search-and-rescue operations and remained here after Harvey,” he said. “They were actually just about to leave. He backed into that thing and debris went everywhere.”

The Army’s statement also said the U.S. Combat Readiness Center makes every attempt to investigate Class A Army accidents if teams and resources are available. Class A accident criteria include total property damage of $2 million or more, a destroyed, missing or abandoned Army aircraft or missile or injury and/or occupational illness resulting in a fatality or permanent total disability.

During Jefferson County Commissioners’ Court on Monday, commissioners unanimously approved an agreement that allowed the airport to receive bids on the work that needed to be done.