9 people killed as U.S. army helicopters crash during training in Kentucky

Nine people were killed in a crash involving two Army Black Hawk helicopters in Kentucky, a US military spokesman said.

Nondice Thurman, a spokeswoman for Fort Campbell, said Thursday morning that the death occurred the previous night in southwestern Kentucky during a routine training mission.

Officials are expected to provide more details at a news conference Thursday morning.

A statement from Fort Campbell said two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, part of the 101st Airborne Division, collided around 10 pm local time Wednesday in Trigg County, Kentucky. The 101st Airborne confirmed the crash about 50 kilometers northwest of Fort Campbell. The accident is under investigation.

“Right now our focus is on the Soldiers and their families involved,” the statement added.

Kentucky’s governor previously said there were casualties.

“We have received difficult news from Fort Campbell, with initial reports of a helicopter crash, and there have been casualties,” Governor Andy Beshear said in a post on Twitter, adding that local authorities and emergency services were responding to the crash.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, expressed his condolences.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the recent Army helicopter crash in Kentucky involving the brave 101st Airborne,” McConnell posted on Twitter.

Fort Campbell is located near the Tennessee border, about 100 kilometers northwest of Nashville.

‘Fireball’ seen by witnesses

Nick Tomaszewski, who lives about a mile from where the crash happened, said he saw two helicopters fly past his house moments before the crash.

“For whatever reason yesterday my wife and I were sitting there looking at the back deck and I said, ‘Wow, those two helicopters seem a bit low and they seem close to each other tonight,'” he said.

The helicopter took off and circled again and moments later “we saw what looked like fireworks in the sky.”

“All the lights on the helicopter went out. It looked like it just poofed … and then we saw a big flash like a fireball,” Tomaszewski said.

The HH-60 is a variant of the Black Hawk helicopter designed to provide support for a variety of military operations, including air strikes and medical evacuation, according to the army.

Last month, two Tennessee National Guard pilots were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed on an Alabama road during training.