Seattle – Four US Army When the MH-60 Blackhawk helicopter was earlier this week army Officials said Friday.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command said the helicopter was on a regular training mission when the joint base Lewis-McChord crashed at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Soldiers are part of No. 160 Special Operations Aviation GroupOfficials said airborne.
Recovery work is underway, and the cause of the crash is still under investigation. army Officials said.
According to the National Weather Service, the sky in the area is mostly clear.
army Officials said they will release the soldiers’ names “in due time” out of respect for the family.
“Our hearts are with these Night Walkers’ families, friends and teammates,” said Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga, USASOC Commander. “They are elite warriors that embody the highest value.” army and army Special actions, their sacrifices will never be forgotten. ”
army “My heart is heavy,” said X Secretary Dan Driscoll on X. “While we await further updates, my prayers are prayers with participants, their families and throughout the night stalkers, special operations and the JBLM community,” he said.
this Legion’s The task is to organize, equip and hire army According to special operations aviation forces around the world Military website.
“These soldiers are known as night stalkers and are recognized for their proficiency in night operations,” the website says. “They are trained and ready to complete the toughest tasks in all environments in the world, day or night, with precise accuracy.”
Braga said law enforcement officers, firefighters and professionals at the joint base are underway for recovery work at the crash site.
“We thank the skilled professionals for working tirelessly throughout the day to bring our soldiers home,” Braga said.
The crash triggered a small wildfire and by Friday morning, it had grown to 1.25 acres (0.5 hectares), the Washington Department of Natural Resources said. The agency said the fire was small, so they had an engine on site.
The base is under the jurisdiction of about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma US Army Joint Base Headquarters.
This is the second fatal collapse of this elite department in recent years.
five army Aviation Special Operations Forces were killed when a helicopter crashed in the Eastern Mediterranean during a conventional air refueling mission in 2023. They are Military 160 Special Operations Aviation Group Headquartered in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In March 2024, two soldiers from Lewis-McChord, United Base Soaring When their Apache helicopter crashed during routine training, the unit was hospitalized when the base crashed.
