Sign in Subscribe
Soldiers

Four U.S. Army Special Operations Soldiers Feared Dead After Helicopter Crash

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Washington state on Wednesday night, causing a 1-acre fire and hampering efforts to reach the four Army soldiers on board. The soldiers, members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, were likely dead, Army officials announced on Friday. The regiment, also known as the "Night Stalkers," is headquartered at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and is known for operating at night.

Key Takeaways:

  • The helicopter crash occurred in a rural location about 40 miles west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a major military base in Washington state.
  • The four soldiers on board were members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as the "Night Stalkers," a unit headquartered at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
  • The regiment has two battalions based at Fort Campbell and one each at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
  • The unit has experienced a tragic loss before, with five soldiers dying in a training exercise accident in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in November 2023.
  • Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, expressed condolences to the families and teammates of the fallen soldiers, describing them as "elite warriors who embodied the highest values of the Army and the Army Special Operations."
  • The helicopter crash occurred around 9 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, with a 1-acre fire causing difficulties for rescue efforts.
  • The Army has not released the names of the four soldiers who were on board the helicopter.

Statistics:

  • 4: The number of U.S. Army special operations soldiers who were likely killed in the helicopter crash.
  • 1: The acre size of the fire caused by the helicopter crash.
  • 40: The milesdistance from Joint Base Lewis-McChord to the location of the helicopter crash.
  • 50: The milesdistance from Seattle to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
  • 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment: The unit to which the fallen soldiers belonged.
  • November 2023: The month and year in which the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment experienced a previous loss, with five soldiers dying in a training exercise accident.

Sources:

  • CBS News
  • The Seattle Times
  • UPI: "Four U.S. Army Special Operations Soldiers Feared Dead After Helicopter Crash"
  • The Army has not released the names of the four soldiers who were on board the helicopter.

Read more