9 Soldiers Killed In 2 Helicopter Crashes Near Fort Campbell

FORT CAMPBELL, KY — Nine soldiers were killed Wednesday night when two U.S. Army helicopters flying out of Fort Campbell crashed in Trigg County, a Fort Campbell spokesperson said during a Thursday morning news conference.

The crashes occurred around 10 p.m. when two 101st Airborne Division air assault helicopters went down during a "routine training mission," U.S. Army Fort Campbell said.

The crew members were flying HH60 Blackhawk helicopters, according to officials.

During Thursday's news conference, Brigadier General John Lubas, 101st Airborne Division Deputy Commander, said that the helicopters crashed in an open field next to a residential area. Officials are in the process of notifying family members and information about the soldiers who lost their lives will not be made available until notifications are complete, Lubas added.

"The Army has deployed an aircraft safety team from Fort Rutger, Alabama who will arrive later today and immediately initiate an investigation to help us understand what caused this crash in order to prevent accidents like this from happening again," Lubas said. "This is a truly tragic loss for our families, our division, and Fort Campbell, and our number one priority is caring for the families and the soldiers within our combat aviation brigade."

"Today is a tough and tragic day for Kentucky. For Fort Campbell, for the 101st. The nine individuals we lost are children to God, they will be mourned and missed by their families, by their communities," Kentucky Governor Andy Bashear said during the conference. "We are blessed to live in the freest country in the history of planet Earth. But we must remember that freedom relies on those who are willing to serve. Some of which paid the ultimate price."