Remembering the Fallen: U.S. Army Special Operations Soldiers Lost in MH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Crash
A U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state during a routine training mission, with four special operations soldiers on board believed to have died, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne. Recovery efforts are ongoing, and the cause of the crash is under investigation. The soldiers' names will be released at an appropriate time to respect their families.
The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as Night Stalkers, is responsible for organizing, equipping, and deploying Army special operations aviation forces worldwide. These elite soldiers are highly trained for nighttime operations and are prepared to carry out challenging missions with precision in any environment, day or night.
The crash resulted in a small wildfire that had grown to 1.25 acres by Friday morning, with minimal fire activity reported. The base, located south of Tacoma, is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash site in the Summit Lake area, west of Olympia, but rescue efforts were hindered by the fire at the scene.
This tragic incident follows a previous aviation mishap at the joint base in March 2024 when two soldiers were injured in an Apache helicopter crash during a routine training exercise. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of the soldiers who lost their lives in this helicopter crash. Their sacrifice and service will always be remembered.