During a training mission in Alaska, two US Army helicopters collided, leaving three soldiers dead and a fourth injured.
The 11th Airborne Division, which is stationed out of Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, had the soldiers aboard two AH-64 Apache helicopters. They belonged to the 25th Aviation Regiment’s First Attack Battalion.
The 11th Airborne Division verified the incident on Thursday night. The Apaches were returning from a training mission when they collided. About 100 miles south of Fort Wainwright, they crashed close to the town of Healy.
Two soldiers were killed immediately at the scene, the Army said. Two survived and were transported to Fairbanks for medical treatment, but one of the injured soldiers died en route to the hospital.
The surviving injured soldier is being treated at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.
The names of the deceased soldiers are being withheld for 24 hours as the Army notifies their next-of-kin.
Major General Brian Eifler called the accident was an ‘incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division.’
‘The Fort Wainwright community is one of the tightest military communities I’ve seen in my 32 years of service,’ General Eifler said. ‘I have no doubt they will pull together during this exceptional time of need and provide comfort to our families of our fallen.’
The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by an Army Combat Readiness Center team from Fort Novosel in Alabama.
The crash comes only one month after nine US Army soldiers were killed when two HH60 helicopters crashed in Trigg County, Kentucky. The soldiers were part of the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell.
Another deadly military helicopter crash occurred in February, when two Tennessee National Guardsmen were killed when their helicopter burst into flame above Madison County, Alabama.