2 Air Force airmen killed in freefall accident

Two special tactics airmen died after a freefall training accident at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force said. Tech Sgt. Timothy A. Officer Jr. and Tech Sgt. Marty B. Bettelyoun died from the parachute training accident, the Air Force Times reported.

Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, a Combat Controller with the 720th Operations Support Squadron, died Aug. 3, 2015, in a military freefall training accident on Eglin Range.
Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, a Combat Controller with the 720th Operations Support Squadron, died Aug. 3, 2015, in a military freefall training accident on Eglin Range.
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr., a Tactical Air Control Party Airman from the 720th Operations Support Squadron, died Aug. 3, 2015, from a military freefall training accident on Eglin Range.

Two special tactics airmen died after a freefall training accident at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force said.

Tech Sgt. Timothy A. Officer Jr. and Tech Sgt. Marty B. Bettelyoun died from the parachute training accident, the Air Force Times reported.

Both men were from the 24th Special Operations Wing based in Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Air Force Special Operations Command said the cause of the accident is under investigation.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of these Special Tactics Airmen,” AFSOC said in a statement.

Officer, 32, served 14 years in the Air Force and was deployed several times to Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force Times said. He was awarded the Bronze Star twice.

Bettelyoun, 35, served 15 years and was also deployed on several occasions, the Times said. He taught survival, evasion, resistance and escape techniques to thousands of airmen and others who were at risk of being captured.

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