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CatastropheUnited States of America

US army helicopters crash in Kentucky, 9 killed

March 30, 2023

Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a training mission over Kentucky, killing all soldiers aboard.

https://p.dw.com/p/4PVpI
Emergency responders are seen near a site where two military helicopters crashed Wednesday night during a routine training mission
The crash occurred on Wednesday nightImage: Brandon Smith/WSMV-TV/AP/picture alliance

A US military spokesperson said on Thursday that nine soldiers were killed in a crash involving two Army Black Hawk helicopters in the southeastern US state of Kentucky.

Crew members were flying the two helicopters, operated by the 101st Airborne Division, during a nighttime routine training mission on Wednesday, the spokesperson said. 

It was not clear if the two helicopters had crashed into each other, said Brigadier General John Lubas, deputy commanding officer for operations at the division.

Lubas added that one helicopter had five soldiers and the other one had four.

National Weather Service forecaster Marc Chenard said the weather in the Fort Campbell area, on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, featured clear skies and calm winds.

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"The crash occurred in a field, some wooded area," Kentucky State Police Trooper Sarah Burgess said at a news briefing. "At this time, there are no reports of residence damage."

Nick Tomaszewski, a local resident cited by the Associated Press (AP) news agency, said flyovers for training exercises happen almost daily where he lives, but noted that helicopters typically fly low but not so close together.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he traveled to Fort Campbell "to support our troops and their families after last night's tragic incident." 

US military aircraft crashes

A Black Hawk helicopter crash in Alabama last month left two Tennessee National Guard pilots dead. That crash also occurred during a training exercise. 

Smoke rises after a helicopter crashed in Harvest, Alabama, US, February 15, 2023
In February, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed along an Alabama highway during atraining exerciseImage: Josh Smith State Farm/REUTER

Last year, a V-22B Osprey aircraft crashed during NATO exercises in Norway, killing four US Marines. Investigators said it likely hit a mountain. 

Another crash in 2021 involved a T-45C Goshawk jet during a drill in Texas, but two US Navy pilots were rescued. 

Wednesday's crash was that of the HH-60 variant of the Black Hawk helicopter, which is designed to provide support for various military operations. 

The 101st Airborne Division, which operated the helicopters in Wednesday's crash, is an air assault division stationed in Fort Campell. It is renowned for D-day landings during World War II.

fb/msh (AP, Reuters)