WILLEMSTAD:---The bodies of aviator Christine Martens and tactical coordinator Erwin Warnies have been transferred to the families by Defense. This happened this afternoon with military ceremonies at Eindhoven Air Base. Colleagues carried the Dutch-flagged caskets on their shoulders from the KDC-10 transport aircraft. That landed on Dutch soil around 1 p.m. Soldiers of the navy and air force formed a guard of honor. The 2nd class oldest category lieutenants were killed last Sunday when the NH90 maritime attack helicopter in which they were seated crashed in the Caribbean Sea. The 2 crew members who survived the crash accompanied their killed colleagues to the Netherlands. A crew carries through a military guard of honor. In the background, the KDC-10 flew the bodies from Curaçao to Eindhoven Air Base. Professional and dear colleagues Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten at the ceremony at Eindhoven: “It is terrible what happened. We are all deeply affected and sympathize with the immediate families, friends, and colleagues and will support and help them where possible. The defense has lost 2 dedicated, professional, and dear colleagues. Christine Martens and Erwin Warnies have always devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the safety of other people, ”said the minister. State Secretary Barbara Visser, Commander of the Armed Forces Lt. Admiral Rob Bauer and the commanders of the Navy and Air Force, Vice Admiral Rob Kramer and Lt. Gen. Dennis Luyt, also supported the relatives with their presence. Derived on Curaçao Soldiers placed on Curaçao, personnel of the Coast Guard and the crew of Zr.Ms. Groningen did the colleagues killed with a ceremony last night. A carrier crew took the bodies to the KDC-10. This air force aircraft departed from Hato airport in Curaçao. Heart-warming reactions The helicopter crash hit many people inside and outside the armed forces. Thousands of heart-warming reactions came in through the condolences register on defensie.nl. It is still possible to express condolences. After closure, the register is handed over to the next of kin.
