Several feared dead after two US army helicopters crash during training in Kentucky

[March 30, 2023]  (Reuters) -The governor of Kentucky said on Thursday fatalities were expected after two U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a routine training mission over the state late on Wednesday. 

A general view of the site after helicopters crashed in Trigg County, Kentucky, U.S., March 29, 2023. WKDZ Radio/Handout via REUTERS

The status of the crew members was not immediately known, the U.S. Army's Fort Campbell said in a statement to Reuters, without providing the number of people who were on board.

"We’ve got some tough news out of Fort Campbell, with early reports of a helicopter crash, and fatalities are expected," governor Andy Beshear said in a post on Twitter, adding that local authorities and emergency services were responding to the accident.

Crew members were flying two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, operated by the 101st Airborne Division, which crashed at around 10:00 p.m. ET (0200 GMT Thursday) in Kentucky's Trigg County, Fort Campbell's public affairs office said.

"The command is currently focused on caring for the service members and their families," the statement said, adding that the cause of the crash was under investigation.

The HH-60 is a variant of the Black Hawk helicopter designed to provide support for various military operations, including air assaults and medical evacuations, according to the Army.

(Reporting by Akriti Sharma and Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Bernadette Baum)

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