On Friday (September 19), the US Army announced that a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a routine training near Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington State around 9:00 pm on Wednesday (Pacific Daylight Time). It is presumed that the four soldiers on board have perished. Recovery operations are still ongoing, with the investigation into the cause of the accident.
The soldiers who lost their lives belonged to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as the “Night Stalkers,” an airborne unit specializing in executing difficult nighttime missions. These missions include transporting Navy SEALs, Delta Force, U.S. Army Rangers, and other special forces to enemy territories.
The crashed helicopter was an MH-60M Black Hawk. The location of the accident near the base is rugged and remote.
Jacqui Hill, a spokesperson for the US Army Special Operations Command, stated that due to the remote location and the fire ignited by the crash amid dense vegetation, rescue personnel initially had difficulty reaching the site. As of Friday, recovery operations are still in progress.
The weather in the area was generally clear with light southerly winds at the time of the incident.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources reported that the crash sparked a small wildfire, which had spread to 1.25 acres by Friday morning. They mentioned that due to the “relatively weak” fire, only one fire engine was dispatched to the scene.
Law enforcement, firefighters, and professionals from JBLM are all on site carrying out recovery and cleanup operations. The base is located about 20 miles south of Tacoma.
Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga, the commanding officer of the US Army Special Operations Command, expressed his condolences, stating, “Our hearts are with the families, friends, and teammates of these ‘Night Stalkers.'”
He added, “They are elite warriors who embody the highest values of the Army and Army Special Operations. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Lt. Gen. Braga also thanked the personnel on-site, saying, “We appreciate these skilled professionals who work tirelessly day and night to bring our soldiers home.”
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll expressed his heavy-hearted feelings upon learning about the accident. He wrote on social media platform X, “As we await further updates, my thoughts and prayers are with the individuals involved, their families, and the entire ‘Night Stalkers,’ Special Operations, and JBLM community.”
In respect for the families, the Army will announce the names of the deceased at an “appropriate time.”
This incident marks the second fatal air crash for this elite unit in recent years. In 2023, five members of the 160th Aviation Regiment perished in a helicopter crash during routine air-to-air refueling training in the Eastern Mediterranean. In March 2024, an Apache helicopter within JBLM crashed during training, resulting in injuries to two soldiers.