Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska — Two U.S. Military helicopters collided and crashed Thursday in Alaska whereas coming back from a coaching flight, killing three troopers and injuring a fourth.
Two of the troopers died on the scene of the crash close to Healy, Alaska, and a 3rd died on the best way to a hospital in Fairbanks, the Military mentioned in a press release. It mentioned a fourth soldier was being handled at a hospital for accidents.
The names of these killed have been being withheld till 24 hours after family members may very well be notified, the Military mentioned.
Every AH-64 Apache helicopter was carrying two individuals on the time of the crash, John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Military Alaska, mentioned earlier Thursday.
The helicopters have been from the first Assault Battalion, twenty fifth Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, primarily based close to Fairbanks.
“That is an unimaginable loss for these troopers’ households, their fellow troopers, and for the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding normal of the eleventh Airborne Division, mentioned within the Military assertion. “Our hearts and prayers exit to their households, associates and family members, and we’re making the total sources of the Military obtainable to assist them.
“The Fort Wainwright neighborhood is without doubt one of the tightest army communities I’ve seen in my 32 years of service,” he continued. “I’ve little doubt they may pull collectively throughout this distinctive time of want and supply consolation to our households of our fallen.”
The Military mentioned the reason for the crash was below investigation and extra particulars can be launched after they turn into obtainable.
The crash is the second involving army helicopters in Alaska this yr.
In February, two troopers have been injured when an Apache helicopter rolled after taking off from Talkeetna. The plane was certainly one of 4 touring to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage from Fort Wainwright.
In March, 9 troopers have been killed when two U.S. Military Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed throughout a routine nighttime coaching train about 30 miles northeast of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Healy is about 10 miles north of the Denali Nationwide Park and Protect, some 250 miles north of Anchorage.
Healy is a neighborhood of about 1,000 individuals on the Parks Freeway in Alaska’s inside area. It is a widespread place for individuals to spend the night time whereas visiting the close by park, which is house to Denali, the continent’s tallest mountain.
Healy can be well-known for being the city closest to the previous bus that had been deserted within the backcountry and was popularized by the e-book “Into the Wild” and the film of the identical title. The bus was eliminated and brought to Fairbanks in 2020.
