Routine Training Mission Claims 9
HH-60 Blackhawk
Tragic, fatal flight mishap in Kentucky.
Army Black Hawk helicopters crash, killing 9 service members: official
Crash between two Army HH60 Black Hawk helicopters happened during training mission near Fort Campbell in Kentucky
By Lawrence Richard , Liz Friden , Greg Norman | Fox News
An Army official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday all nine service members aboard the two Blackhawk helicopters that crashed Wednesday night in Trigg County, Kentucky – near Fort Campbell – have died.
Two HH60 Black Hawks of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) were conducting a training exercise at approximately 10 p.m. when they crashed, Brendalyn Carpenter-Player, the director of the Fort Campbell Public Affairs, told Fox News Digital.
“The crewmembers were flying two HH60 Black Hawk helicopters during a routine training mission when the incident occurred,” Carpenter-Player said. “The command is currently focused on caring for the servicemembers and their families.”
Too early to determine the cause, other than the inherent danger present in all military training events. Deepest condolences to the families and friends of the departed.
Fair winds and following seas.
Category: Army, The Warrior Code, Training Incidents
RIP Warriors
RIP and may God comfort the families.
Be at peace at last brothers.
RIP
Rest in peace. God be with your families.
Training for war is as dangerous as war sometimes.
RIP
The profession of arms is not for the faint of heart. My respects to the fallen My condolences to the loved ones who must endure the grief.
Rest in peace.
“Too early to determine the cause, other than the inherent danger present in all military training events…”
Just read that the pilots were wearing night vision goggles. Ol’ Poe will wager that played a major role…
No such thing as “routine”. It’s all inherently dangerous. Godspeed, heroes.
Prayers and Condolences goes out to the families of these nine Soldiers.
Rest In Peace.
News Channel 5 in Nashville, TN has an interesting article with speculation as to what caused the accident:
“Black Hawk Crash In Kentucky Recalls Similar Crash Years Earlier In The ’90s”
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/black-hawk-crash-in-kentucky-recalls-similar-crash-years-earlier-in-the-90s
“There was another eerily similar crash involving choppers with tragic results at Ft. Campbell back in 1996, when two Black Hawk helicopters collided during a training exercise killing the soldiers on board. It injured dozens of others.”
“What happened was captured on video by an amateur photographer. It will be some time before authorities reveal what caused the crash of the two Black Hawks Wednesday night in Trigg County, Kentucky. But, the video of a similar crash at Ft. Campbell from 27 years ago may offer some hints as to what happened.”
“Six soldiers were killed in the crash — four in the choppers and two on the ground.”
“Thirty others involved in the training exercise were injured.”
“So, what caused the crash?”
“Look closely at the video and you can see the helicopter main rotor blades just barely touched, that’s all it took.”
“In the days that followed, Army investigators picked through the remains of the mangled helicopters looking for the cause of the crash. But the most important piece of evidence is the video. The blades touched, sending the two aircraft spiraling down.”
“It’s still not clear exactly what caused the helicopters to clip blades in 1996 crash.”
“The options then and now for investigators are: miscommunication, pilot error or mechanical failure.”
In 1988 my unit (2-502 INF) was riding back from an exercise when 17 were killed…https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/03/10/17-killed-in-collision-of-army-helicopters/13483059-3899-4429-a346-1027ab49d1a1/
Again, accurate depth perception and distance perception are problems with night-vision goggles:
Depth Perception and Distance Assessment Under Night Vision Goggles and Their Influence Factor (researchgate.net)
And this is a recent (Jan/2023) study…
Rest Easy, Warriors. May God’s Peace bring some measure of His Comfort to your families. And yes…even training for war is Hell.
Less than two weeks ago, the 101st just came home from Europe.
Rest in Peace.
Navy Cross holder Mike Day passed the other day as well.
Mike Day, Navy SEAL who survived being shot 27 times in Iraq, dies (msn.com)