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2023 Fort Campbell mid-air collision

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2023 Fort Campbell mid-air collision
Accident
DateMarch 29, 2023; 19 months ago (2023-03-29)
SummaryMid-air collision, under investigation
SiteFort Campbell, Kentucky, United States
Total fatalities9
First aircraft
TypeSikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
Fatalities5
Second aircraft
TypeSikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
Fatalities4

On March 29, 2023, two Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters,[1] both operated by the 101st Airborne Division, collided over Fort Campbell in Trigg County, Kentucky, United States.[2][3] All nine servicemembers were killed.[4] The black boxes belonging to the helicopters were found, as well as night-vision goggles used by the pilots during the exercise.[5]

Crash

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The crash occurred at around 11 pm (EDT), during a routine training mission over Trigg County, Kentucky.[6][7] Both helicopters were operated by the 101st Airborne Division. The crash occurred just west of the US Army post of Fort Campbell, near the Kentucky-Tennessee border.[8] A local witness, James Hughes, stated that the helicopters had been flying "pretty low" over local homes when the collision occurred.[7] The weather at the time of the crash was clear.[9]

Early in the morning of 30 March 2023, the 101st Airborne confirmed that there had been a number of casualties.[7] A US Army soldier at the scene informed the local WKDZ-FM radio station that there had been several fatalities and that the county coroner had been called.[10] Kentucky state police (KSP) were called at around 10:15 (EST), and rushed to an area of woods and fields. Sarah Burgess, a spokesperson for the KSP stated that multiple agencies were participating in the investigation, and also stated that no residential areas had been affected.[4]

Prior incidents

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The incident was not the first air collision in the vicinity of the post; in March 1988, 17 servicemen were killed when two UH-60 Black Hawks collided doing routine night maneuvers. In 1996, six 101st Airborne Division servicemen were killed when two army Black Hawk helicopters collided near the post. In 2015, two pilots were killed following a helicopter crash during training. In 2017, four pilots were injured in a similar incident, and in 2018, a helicopter crash nearby killed two people.[11]

Victims

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There were no survivors of the incident; all nine servicemen perished. They were: WO1 Jeffrey Barnes, CPL Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, CW2 Zachary Esparza, SGT Isaacjohn Gayo, SSG Caleb Gore, WO1 Aaron Healy, SSG Taylor Mitchell, CW2 Rusten Smith, and SGT David Solinas Jr.[5]

Three servicemembers were posthumously promoted as follows:[5]

  • CPL Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, promoted to Sergeant;
  • CW2 Zachary Esparza, promoted to Chief Warrant Officer Three;
  • WO1 Aaron Healy, promoted to Chief Warrant Officer Two.

Response

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Kentucky governor Andy Beshear announced the incident on Twitter soon after it occurred, stating that fatalities were expected.[6]

US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said that he was "devastated", and that his team was in contact with the US Army and authorities on the ground.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Britzky, Haley (31 March 2023). "US Army identifies nine soldiers killed in Black Hawk training accident | CNN Politics". CNN.
  2. ^ Ives, Mike (29 March 2023). "9 soldiers killed after Army helicopters collide over Kentucky". The New York Times. Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  3. ^ Wright, Lucas (29 March 2023). "9 soldiers dead after 2 Fort Campbell Black Hawk helicopters crash on training mission in Kentucky". WKRN-TV. Trigg County, KY: Nexstar Media Inc. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Ebrahimji, Alisha; Burnside, Tina; Liu, Chloe; Britzky, Haley; Alsup, Dave (30 March 2023). "9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky during training mission, Army says". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Flight data recorders found after deadly Black Hawk crash". ArmyTimes. Fort Campbell, KY. Associated Press. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Helsel, Phil; Da Silva, Chantal; Lenthang, Marlene; Planas, Antonio (29 March 2023). "9 soldiers killed in Army helicopter training crash in Kentucky". NBC News. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Griffin, Allie; Brown, Lee (30 March 2023). "Two Fort Campbell helicopters crash in Kentucky, multiple feared dead". New York Post. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. ^ Helsel, Phil; Da Silva, Chantal; Lenthang, Marlene (30 March 2023). "9 soldiers killed in Army helicopter training crash in Kentucky". CNBC. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. ^ Ali, Idrees; Stewart, Phil (30 March 2023). "Kentucky helicopter crash: nine killed after Army Black Hawks collide". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Nine killed in crash of two Army helicopters in Trigg County". WKDZ Radio. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  11. ^ Carbonaro, Giulia (30 March 2023). "Fort Campbell helicopter crash leaves multiple dead in Kentucky—Governor". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.


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