March 30, (THEWILL) – Many people are feared to have died, after two US Army Blackhawk helicopters crashed during a training incident in Kentucky on Wednesday night, officials said.
“We can confirm two aircraft from the 101st were involved in an accident last night resulting in serval casualties. Right now our focus is on the Soldiers and their families who were involved”, the 101st Airborne Division, said in a tweet early Thursday morning.
The crash unfolded at around 10 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) during training in Trigg County, to the west of the Army base Fort Campbell, the base said in a statement early Thursday.
Kentucky Governor, Andy Beshear, had said fatalities were expected.
“We’ve got some tough news out of Fort Campbell, with early reports of a helicopter crash and fatalities are expected. Please pray for all those affected”, Beshear tweeted, adding that state police and local officials are responding.
Speaking with journalists after the crash, state police said the incident unfolded in a partially wooded field area. They said a perimeter had been set up around the debris field.
It said the status of the personnel aboard the helicopters could not yet be confirmed.
Nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles,” the 101st Airborne Division was activated on Aug. 16, 1942 and is based near Kentucky’s border with Tennessee.
