Three Army National Guard pilots died when their helicopter crashed during a training mission in southern Idaho on Tuesday night, authorities said.
The victims were in a UH-60 Black Hawk, Major General Michael Garshak, Idaho’s assistant general and commander of the Idaho National Guard, said in a statement.
Their names were not released.
The accident happened just south of Lucky Peak, which is just over 10 miles southeast of the state capital, Boise, shortly after 8 pm local time, officials said.
“This is a tremendous loss for the Idaho National Guard and our community,” said Garshak. “Our thoughts and prayers are with families and loved ones as we face this tragedy.”
The Black Hawk’s last contact was at about 7:45 pm and an emergency locator transmitter on the aircraft was activated shortly after 8:00 pm, immediately launching a search, according to Colonel Christopher Burt, aviation officer for the Army National Guard state. Idaho.
Rescuers found the wreckage and crew at around 12:15 pm on Wednesday. The cause of the accident was not immediately determined.
“I am sad to hear about the passing of three brave drivers,” Sen. Mike Crapo from USA, R-Idaho, said in a statement. “My condolences go out to the family and friends of our heroic Idaho national guards.”
AND US Representative Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said he and his wife “are praying for the families and friends of the three Idaho National Guard soldiers who were killed during a training flight last night.”
“Our citizen soldiers embody a spirit of service and the best of American patriotism, and that loss is deeply felt in Idaho,” added Simpson.
