One Soldier Dead, Another Injured in Fort Campbell Helicopter Training Crash
A soldier was killed and another injured during an aviation training mission Wednesday evening at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the service announced.
The incident occurred at 7 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the 101st Airborne Division. Emergency responders confirmed one fatality at the scene. The second soldier was evacuated to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Clarksville, Tennessee, where they were listed in stable condition.
The helicopter involved was carrying only two personnel -- the pilot and co-pilot -- at the time of the accident, according to the service. Officials did not release the names of those involved or specify which crew member died. Identities are commonly withheld until notification of the next-of-kin.
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The division did not release further details on what led up to the crash or the nature of the training exercise. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.
The fatality comes just weeks after another deadly incident involving a 101st Airborne soldier. Sgt. Aaron Cox died during a vehicle training exercise near Camp Croft, Hungary, in early June while assigned to the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The Army has grappled with a series of high-profile aviation mishaps, particularly involving Black Hawk helicopters. Despite the frequency and severity of these incidents, Army officials have not publicly indicated whether the accidents stem from aircraft design flaws, training protocols, or systemic oversight gaps.
In January, a Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing all 64 people aboard the commercial jet and the three-soldier military crew.
That incident followed a deadly 2023 crash in which nine soldiers died during a nighttime training flight when two HH-60 Black Hawks collided near Fort Campbell.
It was one of the most serious non-combat aviation accidents in Army history. Just weeks later, three soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska were killed when two Apache helicopters collided during a training mission.
The back-to-back incidents triggered a force-wide stand-down to review flight safety procedures.
Fort Campbell, encompassing more than 106,000 acres, is home to several key Army units, including the 101st Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The base serves as a critical hub for air assault and special operations.
Related: Route Used by Army Black Hawk During Deadly Collision Was Far Too Risky, Safety Officials Say
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