Several feared dead after two US Black Hawk helicopters crash in mid-air during training mission at Kentucky base | The Sun
SEVERAL people are feared dead after two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in mid-air.
Emergency services raced to the scene near Fort Campbell military base in Trigg County, Kentucky, shortly after 10pm on Wednesday.
Authorities said two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) helicopters had crashed during a routine training mission, with local radio station WKDZ Radio reporting "several people killed."
The crewmembers were flying two HH60 Black Hawk helicopters, according to officials.
It's not known how many people were on board the helicopters.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has warned that "fatalities are expected."
Fort Campbell officials have not confirmed any deaths.
They said: "The status of the crew members are unknown at this time.
"The command is currently focused on caring for the servicemembers and their families."
First responders raced to the scene after the helicopters crashed to the ground.
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An eyewitness told the radio station WKDZ that he heard "a pop" and "two booms" from his home, located a half mile away from the crash site.
There was light to no wind in the area at the time of the crash.
Officials have not revealed what caused the helicopter crash amid the ongoing investigation.
Several helicopters have been flying across the area in recent nights, reports say.
Fort Campbell is an active U.S. Army installation located on the Kentucky/Tennessee border.
The military base is located 60 miles northwest of Nashville.
Black Hawk HH-60s are versatile combat service helicopters.
The twin-engined crafts are used to conduct medical evacuations, air assault missions as well as special operations.
An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter can reach maximum speeds of 223mph (360kph) and can carry between eight to 12 troops.
The crash comes just a month after a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter slammed onto a highway in Alabama.
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Two crew members from the Tennessee National Guard were killed in the incident.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to local officials and the armed forces for comment on this incident.
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