The helicopter crashed during a routine training mission.
Three soldiers died after a military helicopter crashed in upstate New York on Wednesday night, the New York National Guard said.
The UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter, based at the Army Aviation Support Center at Rochester International Airport, crashed in Mendon, New York, during a routine training mission, according to the National Guard.
The helicopter crashed at 6:32 pm in the open, Monroe County sheriff’s office said. According to 911 calls, the aircraft was flying very low and there were reports of loose engines, officials said during a news conference on Wednesday night.
Several fire departments responded to the accident, as well as state police and representatives of the U.S. army, the sheriff’s office said. The aircraft was on fire when first aid arrived, officials said.
The wreckage of the accident is the size of a few city blocks, officials said. The road near the accident site remained closed.
The sheriff’s office did not state the cause of the accident.
The aircraft was assigned to Company C of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, according to the New York National Guard.
The flags on all state buildings will be reduced to half a frame on Thursday in honor of the soldiers, said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“The members of the National Guard are our citizen soldiers who serve and protect voluntarily here and on board, and extend prayers and condolences from all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes that we will never forget,” said Cuomo in an announcement.
The New York National Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting an investigation.
Will Gretsky and Kelsey Walsh of ABC News contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check again for updates.