Marine officials identified Navy Lt. James A. Mazzuchelli as the sailor who died after he was struck by the tail rotor blade of a UH-1Y Venom helicopter on Feb. 21.

Mazzuchelli, 32, a flight surgeon with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, 3rd Marine Air Wing, was transported to Scripps La Jolla Medical Facility and was in critical condition, Marine Corps officials said Friday.

On Saturday, officials announced Mazzuchelli had died.

“My heart goes out to our Sailor’s family as we support them through this difficult time,” Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of 3rd MAW, said in a command press release.

The incident occurred at Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton, at roughly 6 p.m. on Feb. 21 while the helicopter was on the deck.

A U.S. Marine with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force conducts a helocast exercise out of a UH-1Y Venom at Ferguson Lake, near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2015. The exercise is part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) 1-16, a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) cadre. MAWTS-1 provides standardized tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by SSgt. Artur Shvartsberg, MAWTS-1 COMCAM/Released)

A native of Orange Park, Florida, Mazzuchelli served nearly eight years in the Navy. He had an overseas deployment to Japan in 2016.

“Lt. James Mazzuchelli was an incredibly talented physician and Sailor,” Col. Matthew Mowery, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 39, said in a command press release.

“His contagious enthusiasm, motivation, and love for the Marines and Sailors of HMLA-267 and MAG-39 has been evident in the outpouring of grief at his loss and the support being shown to his family and close friends.”

The incident is currently under investigation.

About Shawn Snow

Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.

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