Tacoma, Wash. – The army released the names of four soldiers He was killed Wednesday when the military helicopter was shattered Near a base in Washington State.
On Monday, the army said in a statement that the victims were the chief insurance officer Andrew Kully and Andrew Kraos, the Donavone Scott Surgings and Jadalin Jude.
Cully, 35, was from Sparta, Missouri. Kraos, 39, was from Saneple, Florida. Scott, 25, from Takoma, Washington, was the presence of 23, was from Mount Vernon, Washington.
The helicopter was in a routine training on the western joint base Luis Macker, according to the leadership of the US Army’s special operations.
Al -Qaeda is about 10 miles (16 km) south of Takoma under the jurisdiction of the joint base of the American army.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The sky in the area was mostly clear with light winds from the south at the time of the accident, according to national weather service.
Colonel Stephen Smith said in the statement that the soldiers “embody the constant dedication, self -denial and distinction that determines the spirit of the special operations of the army and the army.”
They were part of the Special Aviation Regiment 160, which is the elite team carrying out night tasks, when the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed around 9 pm
The task of the regiment is to organize, equip and employ the army’s airline around the world, according to the army.
“They are known as the nights, these soldiers are recognized for their efficiency in night operations,” the website said. “They are very trained and ready to accomplish the most difficult tasks in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled accuracy.”
This was the second dead accident in this elite unit in recent years.
Five special operations forces flying in the army They were killed when a helicopter crashed in the eastern Mediterranean in 2023 during the task of routine air refueling as part of military training. They were all part of the private aviation regiment in the operations of the army stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In March 2024, two soldiers from the Lewis-Mcchord joint base unit They were taken to the hospital When Apache helicopter crashed into the base during a routine training exercise.