2023 — Mar 30, USA Blackhawk helicopters collide, night training, Cadiz, Trigg Co. KY– 9

–9 CNN. “9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky…3-30-2023.
–9 LA Times. “Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky, killing 9.” 3-30-2023.
–9 NewsChannel5, Nashville. “Names of victims killed in Kentucky Black Hawk…crash…”

Narrative Information

March 30, CNN: “(CNN) — Nine US service members were killed after two helicopters with the 101st Airborne Division crashed late Wednesday in southwestern Kentucky, officials said. There were no survivors. The two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed around 10 p.m. in Trigg County near the Tennessee border, officials at nearby Fort Campbell said early Thursday. They were taking part “in a routine training mission when the incident occurred,” the base said in a statement on Facebook.

“The helicopters were medical evacuation aircraft, and it’s believed the crash happened while they were flying and not during a medical evacuation drill, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, deputy commander of the 101st Airborne Division, said during a Thursday morning news conference at Fort Campbell. The aircraft went down in an open field across from a residential area, so no additional casualties or injuries were reported, he said. The Black Hawks that crashed were two of four total helicopters taking part in the training exercise, according to 101st Airborne Division spokesman Staff Sgt. Joshua Tverberg. One helicopter had stopped to refuel, and another was ahead of the two that went down….

“The HH-60 Black Hawk is the medical evacuation variant of the helicopter, which can transport a fully equipped 11-person infantry squad. One aircraft had five and the other had four people aboard, which Lubas said is typical and includes the pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and ‘medics or other personnel.’….

“The crash comes less than two months after two Tennessee National Guardsmen were killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk crashed during a training flight in Alabama.

“Overall, the Army has averaged five deaths per year in on-duty aviation accidents since fiscal year 2018, according to the US Army Combat Readiness Center.” (CNN. “9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky during a training mission, Army says.” 3-30-2023.)

March 30, LA Times: “Ft. Campbell, Ky. — U.S. Army investigators are trying to determine what caused two Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters to crash during a routine nighttime training exercise in Kentucky, killing all nine soldiers aboard. No one was hurt on the ground….The helicopters crashed in a field near a residential area with no injuries on the ground… An Army spokesperson declined to comment on whether the helicopters collided in the air….‘This was a training progression, and specifically, they were flying a multi-ship formation, two ships, under night-vision goggles at night,’ Lubas [spokesperson] said….

“Ft. Campbell is near the Tennessee border, about 60 miles northwest of Nashville, and the crash occurred in the Trigg County community of Cadiz.

“Nick Tomaszewski, who lives about a mile from where the crash occurred, said he saw two helicopters flying over his house moments before the crash….” (Los Angeles Times. “Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky, killing 9.” 3-30-2023.)

March 31, NewsChannel5: “FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (WTVF) — The U.S. Army has released the names of the nine victims killed in Wednesday night’s crash during a training exercise involving two Black Hawk helicopters out of Fort Campbell.

Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida

Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23, of Austin, Texas

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri

Sgt. Isaacjohn Gayo, 27, of Los Angeles, California

Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25, of Morehead City, North Carolina

Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32, of Cape Coral, Florida

Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30, of Mountain Brook, Alabama

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32, of Rolla, Missouri

Sgt. David Solinas, Jr., 23, of Oradell, New Jersey

(NewsChannel5, Nashville. “Names of victims killed in Kentucky Black Hawk helicopter crash released.” 3-31-2023.)

Sources

CNN. “9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky during a training mission, Army says.” 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-30-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/us/kentucky-helicopter-crash/index.html

Los Angeles Times. “Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky, killing 9.” 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-31-2023 at: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-03-30/2-us-army-helicopters-crash-in-kentucky-deaths-feared

NewsChannel5, Nashville. “Names of victims killed in Kentucky Black Hawk helicopter crash released.” 3-31-2023. Accessed 3-31-2023 at: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/names-of-victims-killed-in-kentucky-black-hawk-helicopter-crash-released