Four Army Service Members Presumed Dead in Thurston County Helicopter Crash
THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Four U.S. Army soldiers are presumed dead following the crash of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) helicopter in Capitol Forest on Wednesday night, U.S. Army officials confirmed.
The MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was on a routine training flight when it went down in the Summit Lake area, located west of Olympia, according to spokesperson Cynthia Smith. Recovery efforts began Thursday afternoon, involving law enforcement, firefighters, and specialized personnel from JBLM.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command identified the soldiers as members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, U.S. Army special operations commander, expressed condolences, stating, “They were elite warriors who embodied the highest values of the Army and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation as authorities work to recover the helicopter's wreckage. Identification of the service members has not been released, pending notification of their families.
The incident is referred to as an “aviation mishap,” and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.