SEATTLE — 4 particular operations troopers aboard a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed close to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state are “believed to be useless,” the U.S. Army Particular Operations Command mentioned Friday.
The helicopter was on a routine coaching mission west of the bottom when it crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, Army officers mentioned. The troopers have been a part of the a hundred and sixtieth Particular Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne, officers mentioned.
Army officers mentioned restoration efforts are underway, and the reason for the crash stays beneath investigation. They mentioned they’d launch the troopers’ names “when acceptable,” out of respect for the households.
“Our hearts are with the households, pals, and teammates of those Night time Stalkers,” mentioned Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC Commander. “They have been elite warriors who embodied the best values of the Army and the Army Particular Operations, and their sacrifice won’t ever be forgotten.”
The regiment’s mission is to prepare, equip and make use of Army particular operations aviation forces world wide, in response to the Army’s web site.
“Often known as Night time Stalkers, these troopers are acknowledged for his or her proficiency in nighttime operations,” the web site mentioned. “They’re extremely skilled and able to accomplish the very hardest missions in all environments, wherever on the earth, day or evening, with unparalleled precision.”
The crash sparked a small wildfire that had grown to 1.25 acres (0.5 hectares) by Friday morning, the Washington Division of Pure Assets mentioned. The company mentioned there was “fairly minimal fireplace exercise” so that they had one engine on the scene.
The bottom is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma beneath the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Workplace, primarily based in Olympia, posted on-line late Wednesday that deputies have been dispatched to stories of a potential helicopter crash within the Summit Lake space, west of Olympia.
“We’ve been suggested that the navy misplaced contact with a helicopter within the space,” the division mentioned. It mentioned it was working with the bottom and that no additional particulars have been obtainable.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders mentioned on Fb that deputies positioned the crash web site “however have been unable to proceed rescue efforts because the scene is on fireplace.”
The newest aviation mishap on the joint base occurred in March 2024. Two troopers have been hospitalized when their Apache helicopter crashed on the base throughout a routine coaching train.
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