Overview
- The two-seat AH-1Z Viper went down around 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 in the remote Imperial Gables area of Imperial County.
- The aircraft launched from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in support of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course hosted out of MCAS Yuma.
- A second pilot was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and was reported in stable condition as of Friday.
- Braconi, 35, served with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 under Marine Aircraft Group 39, and previously flew with HMLA-267 and as an exchange pilot to the Australian Army.
- The Marine Corps released service details noting his 2012 commissioning, promotion to major in 2022, and decorations including a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars.