C-130 crash takes lives of two Hanscom Airmen

  • Published
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Two Hanscom Airmen died Oct. 2 when a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, killing eleven people.

Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain, 29, of Pensacola, Florida, and Senior Airman Kcey E. Ruiz, 21, of McDonough, Georgia, were members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom.

"This is a devastating day for our Air Force and for Hanscom Air Force Base," 66th Air Base Group Commander Col. Michael A. Vogel said during an initial statement to the media Oct. 2. "Our hearts are heavy with sorrow as we grieve with and for the families of these brave Airmen."

Both Airmen were deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan. Members of the 66th SFS routinely deploy to assist with security operations around the globe.

Ruiz and Sartain were installation entry controllers and also armorers here at Hanscom. They ensured that only authorized personnel accessed the installation, and they provided a proactive deterrent and first line of defense against any threats to the base, its personnel and its mission, said 66th Security Forces Squadron Commander Maj. Joseph Bincarousky.  

While deployed to Afghanistan, they performed fly-away security team, better known as FAST, missions, meaning they flew aboard and protected aircraft, along with aircrew, passengers and cargo, as these aircraft flew from one location to another. 
Both Airmen were phenomenal young leaders and were nominated for early promotion, Bincarousky said.

"These Airmen were rock stars," he said. "Their enthusiasm and dedication inspired peers and unit leadership alike. This is the type of young Airmen the Air Force needs more of; their absence is palpable. Now it's incumbent upon us as leaders to take the example they've given us and impress it upon others. They'll be sorely missed by their fellow defenders here, and I'm extremely grateful for and humbled by their service. My heart goes out to their families and loved ones."

Leaders at their deployed location in Afghanistan also lauded the Airmen. 

"Senior Airman Nathan Sartain and Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz were critical to our mission here of delivering airpower on the combat frontier, and both were topnotch performers," said Chief Master Sgt. Derick Stepp, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron manager. "They were consummate professionals and their loss is a loss for our squadron, their home station units, and our Air Force. They were the very finest of Airmen, and their loss has impacted those who worked with them here and at their home station. They will always be a part of our family."

The remains of these fallen heroes were returned to the U.S. via Dover AFB, Delaware, Monday, where family members were joined by senior Department of Defense and Air Force leadership, as well as base and squadron leaders from Hanscom.

Hanscom officials are now planning a base memorial service in honor of the Airmen, which has been scheduled for Oct. 16. Additional details will be forthcoming soon.