2 US Army helicopters crash in Alaska, killing 3 soldiers
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Army says three soldiers were killed and another was injured after two helicopters collided and crashed in Alaska while returning from a training flight.
The Army says two soldiers died at the scene of Thursday’s crash and a third died on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. The Army statement says a fourth soldier was being treated at a hospital for injuries.
The collision was the second accident involving military helicopters in the state this year.
First responders were on scene at the crash site, near Healy, Alaska, a statement from U.S. Army Alaska said. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board or the extent of any injuries.
The AH-64 Apache helicopters were from Fort Wainwright, based near Fairbanks.
Officials said the incident was under investigation, and more details would be released when they become available.
Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers, referred questions to the U.S. Army.
In February, two soldiers were injured when an Apache helicopter rolled after taking off from Talkeetna. The aircraft was one of four traveling to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage from Fort Wainwright.
Healy is located about 10 miles north of Denali National Park and Preserve, or about 250 miles north of Anchorage.
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