FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — Two Army helicopters crashed in southwestern Kentucky throughout a routine coaching mission, inflicting a number of casualties, army officers stated.
The two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, a part of the one hundred and first Airborne Division, crashed round 10 p.m. Wednesday in Trigg County, Kentucky, in accordance with an announcement from Fort Campbell.
The one hundred and first Airborne confirmed the crash about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Fort Campbell, saying on Twitter it resulted in “several casualties” however didn’t specify whether or not these had been accidents or deaths.
“Right now our focus is on the Soldiers and their families who were involved,” it added.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had stated earlier that fatalities had been anticipated, including that police and emergency officers had been responding.
The crash is below investigation.
“The crash occurred in a field, some wooded area,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Sarah Burgess stated at a information briefing. “At this time, there are no reports of residence damage.”
Fort Campbell is situated close to the Tennessee border, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Nashville, and the crash occurred within the Trigg County, Kentucky, group of Cadiz.
Nick Tomaszewski, who lives a couple of mile from the place the crash occurred, stated he noticed two helicopters flying over his home moments earlier than the crash.
“For whatever reason last night my wife and I were sitting there looking out on the back deck and I said “Wow, those two helicopters look low and they look kind of close to one another tonight,’” he stated.
The helicopters flew over and looped again round and moments later “we saw what looked like a firework went off in the sky.”
“All of the lights in their helicopter went out. It was like they just poofed … and then we saw a huge glow like a fireball,” Tomaszewski stated.
Flyovers for coaching workouts occur nearly every day and the helicopters sometimes fly low however not so shut collectively, he stated.
“There were two back to back. We typically see one and then see another one a few minutes later, and we just saw two of them flying together last night,” he stated.
Members of the Kentucky Senate stood for a second of silence Thursday morning in honor of the crash victims.
“We do not know the extent of what has gone on, but I understand it is bad and there has been a substantial loss of life of our military,” Senate President Robert Stivers advised the somber chamber.
Last month, two Tennessee National Guard pilots had been killed when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed alongside an Alabama freeway throughout a coaching train.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”