MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. — Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, a 2009 graduate of Exeter High School, is one of five Marines who died when their Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crashed during training in the California desert, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
Losapio, 31, was a pilot, along with Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, California. Losapio had been a member of the wrestling team while at Exeter High School. He grew up in Kensington.
Also killed were three tiltrotor crew chiefs: Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.
Losapio was the longest-serving Marine killed, with 8 years and 9 months, while Strickland had been in the service for 1 year and 7 months.
A message was posted on the town of Kensington website Saturday in response to Losapio’s death.
“It is with great sorrow that the town of Kensington mourns the passing of United States Marine Nicholas P. Losapio,” the statement reads in part. “The Kensington Board of Selectmen and the entire town send their deepest condolences to his family on their tragic loss.”
Losapio picked up the sport of wrestling in his final two years at Exeter High School, earning two wins by pin on the team’s Senior Day in 2009.
Losapio went from Exeter High School to Norwich University, where he graduated in 2013.
The MV-22 Osprey went down Wednesday afternoon during training in a remote area in Imperial County near the community of Glamis, about 115 miles east of San Diego and about 50 miles from Yuma, Arizona.
The Marines were based at Camp Pendleton and assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 of Marine Aircraft Group 39, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
What we know about the crash:5 Marines killed after Osprey aircraft crashes in California desert
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family” the squadron’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. John C. Miller, said in a statement. “Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The Marines were participating in routine live-fire training over their gunnery range in the Imperial Valley desert, said Marine Maj. Mason Englehart, spokesperson for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The Osprey, a hybrid airplane and helicopter, flew in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has been criticized by some as unsafe. It is designed to take off like a helicopter, rotate its propellers to a horizontal position and cruise like an airplane.
Versions of the aircraft are flown by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.
Prior to Wednesday’s crash, Osprey crashes had caused 46 deaths, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Most recently, four Marines were killed when a Marine Corps Osprey crashed on March 18 near a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle while participating in a NATO exercise.
