(GoRealNewsNow.com) – UPDATE: It is now confirmed that nine soldiers lost their lives in the crash.
Original Report: Two Army helicopters crashed during a routine training exercise in southwestern Kentucky, resulting in several casualties, according to military officials.
The two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, which belong to the 101st Airborne Division, crashed around 10 p.m. on Wednesday in Trigg County, Kentucky. This information comes from a statement made by Fort Campbell.
The 101st Airborne confirmed the crash happened about 30 miles northwest of Fort Campbell. They posted on Twitter that there were “several casualties” but did not say if those were injuries or deaths.
“Our focus is on the soldiers and their families who were involved,” the 101st Airborne added.
Kentucky’s Governor, Andy Beshear, had mentioned earlier that there might be fatalities. He also said that police and emergency officials were on their way to help.
The crash is currently being investigated.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Sarah Burgess said during a news briefing, “The crash happened in a field, with some trees around. There are no reports of damage to houses.”
Fort Campbell is near the Tennessee border, about 60 miles northwest of Nashville. The crash happened in Trigg County, Kentucky, near the community of Cadiz.
Nick Tomaszewski, who lives about a mile from the crash site, saw two helicopters flying over his house just before the crash. He said that the helicopters were flying low and close together. Moments later, he saw what looked like a firework in the sky, followed by a huge fireball.
Tomaszewski mentioned that helicopters usually fly over for training exercises almost every day, flying low but not so close together.
Members of the Kentucky Senate held a moment of silence on Thursday morning to honor the crash victims.
Senate President Robert Stivers told the quiet chamber, “We do not know the extent of what has happened, but I understand it is bad and there has been a significant loss of life of our military.”
Last month, two Tennessee National Guard pilots died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed along an Alabama highway during a training exercise.
BREAKING: 9 US service members dead after two Black Hawk helicopters crash during routine training mission in Kentucky – WLEX
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 30, 2023
