Two helicopters belonging to the United States Army collided and subsequently crashed Thursday throughout their return from a coaching train within the state of Alaska ensuing within the dying of three troopers whereas the fourth one sustained accidents.
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 Army mentioned in an announcement. It mentioned a fourth soldier was being handled at a hospital for accidents.
The names of these killed had been being withheld till kin might be notified, the military mentioned.
Each AH-64 Apache helicopter was carrying two folks on the time of the crash, John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska, mentioned earlier Thursday.
The helicopters had been from the first Attack Battalion, twenty fifth Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, based mostly close to Fairbanks.
“This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the army statement. “Our hearts and prayers exit to their households, pals and family members, and we’re making the complete sources of the military out there to assist them.”
The Army mentioned the reason for the crash was underneath investigation and extra particulars could be launched after they grow to be out there.
The crash is the second accident involving army helicopters in Alaska this 12 months.
In February, two troopers had been injured when an Apache helicopter rolled after taking off from Talkeetna. The plane was one among 4 touring to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage from Fort Wainwright.
In March, 9 troopers had been killed when two U.S. Army Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed throughout a routine nighttime coaching train about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Healy is situated about 10 miles (16.09 kilometers) north of Denali National Park and Preserve, or about 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Anchorage.
Healy is a neighborhood of about 1,000 folks on the Parks Highway in Alaska’s inside area. It is a well-liked place for folks to spend the night time whereas visiting the close by park, which is dwelling to Denali, the continent’s tallest mountain.
Healy can also be well-known for being the city closest to the previous bus that had been deserted within the backcountry and was popularized by the guide “Into the Wild” and the film of the identical title. The bus was eliminated and brought to Fairbanks in 2020.
Source: www.dailysabah.com