Three soldiers died on Wednesday in a helicopter crash south of Rochester, New York, during a training mission, state military officials said.
The soldiers were on a New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter when it crashed in Mendon City, the state’s military affairs division said.
Their names were not immediately released.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the military helicopter crashed in a field around 6:30 pm
Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was devastated by the news and ordered the flags to be lowered for half the team on Thursday.
“The members of the National Guard are our citizen soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect here and abroad, and extend the prayers and condolences of all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes that we will never forget,” Cuomo said. in a statement.
The state’s military affairs division said the accident was being investigated.
The helicopter was assigned to Company C of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, he said, and the aircraft was based at Rochester International Airport.
Mendon is a city of about 9,200 about 21 miles south of Rochester.
The helicopter crashed in what was described as a farmer’s field. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said there were no houses nearby and, as far as investigators know, no houses were hit by any rubble.
