Two Army Apache helicopters crashed on a training flight Thursday in Alaska, military officials said.
The helicopters were from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Wainwright, the 11th Airborne Division said in a statement.
The AH-64 helicopters were returning from a training flight when they crashed near Healy, the 11th Airborne Division said.
Two people were on each helicopter, for four total, division spokesperson John Pennell said.
“First responders are on the scene. The incident is under investigation, and more information about the incident will be released when it becomes available,” the 11th Airborne Division said.
Fort Wainwright is an Army base in Fairbanks that was established in 1938. It is home to several units, including the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the 25th Infantry Division.
In March, nine soldiers were killed in Kentucky when two Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed in a training exercise west of Fort Campbell.
The cause and nature of Thursday’s crash remained unclear. The incident is under investigation.
The AH-64 is an attack helicopter that has a crew of two — a pilot and a co-pilot gunner — according to the Army’s website.
Healy is a community around 80 miles southwest of Fort Wainwright.
The 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment is under the 11th Airborne Division, which is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
Lindsey Pipia contributed.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
