Two helicopters collide in the United States, 9 killed
Two Army Blackhawk helicopters collided during a training exercise in Kentucky, USA. It is feared that at least 9 people have been killed in this accident.
In a report on Thursday (March 30), the British media Daily Mail said this information. Kentucky Governor Andy Bessaire tweeted Thursday morning, 'Bad news from Fort Campbell.'
The base where the two helicopters collided is located in Trigg County, Kentucky, about 60 miles northeast of Nashville. Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Regiment and 160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment are stationed at that base.
A witness told WKDZ radio, a local news outlet, that 'the two helicopters came down very low, suddenly - as they approached the house, there was a loud noise and a loud explosion. Suddenly everything stopped.'
He also said, 'We got down from the truck and quickly went to the scene, we found two helicopters lying there.'
Trigg County Jail Superintendent James Hughes told WKDZ radio he lives a half-mile from the crash site. According to him, there was a head-on collision between the helicopters.
Fort Campbell base spokeswoman Nondis Thurman confirmed two helicopters crashed near Highway 68 in Trigg County around 10 p.m. local time Wednesday.
He further confirmed that the helicopters were of Blackhawk model. And these were operated by the 101st Airborne Division.
The helicopter crews were flying them as part of routine training. Local media reported that at least 9 people have been killed in this incident. The media also reported that the weather was normal at the time of the accident.
The helicopter training center was inaugurated in July last year at a cost of $5 million. It is designed to provide a realistic understanding of difficult situations.
In February this year, a UH-6-Alpha Blackhawk helicopter was flown unmanned from Fort Campbell for the first time. Thursday's crash is being investigated to see if any errors in the program are related.
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