USA TODAY
Three seasoned pilots with the Idaho National Guard were killed in a helicopter crash Tuesday night outside Boise during a training flight over rough terrain, Guard officials said.
The UH-60 Black Hawk crashed south of Lucky Peak after 8 p.m., the state National Guard confirmed in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.
Two of the pilots were instructors with the Idaho Army National Guard, and the most junior member had more than five years of flight experience, said Lt. Col. Nicole Washington, who oversaw the members. It leaves a tremendous, indescribable void in our aviation community, Washington said Wednesday at a news conference.
Three Killed in Idaho Army National Guard Helicopter Crash
Three Idaho Army National Guard personnel were killed after their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed south of Lucky Peak near Boise shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday according to a news release from the Idaho Army National Guard.
All three personnel aboard were pilots with the Idaho Army National Guard participating in a routine training flight.
“This is a tremendous loss to the Idaho National Guard and our community,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones as we work through this tragedy.”
This is a tremendous loss to the Idaho National Guard and our community, Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard, said in the release. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones as we work through this tragedy.
The Idaho Guard s last contact with the Black Hawk occurred at 7:45 p.m., Col. Christopher Burt, the Idaho Guard s state aviation officer, said in the release.
The aircraft s Emergency Transmitter Locator device was activated shortly after 8 p.m., and Burt s team immediately initiated emergency aircraft recovery procedures, which included air and ground search and rescue crews, according to the release.
Three pilots killed in Idaho National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crash
Updated 6:08 PM ET, Wed February 3, 2021
Idaho Gov. Brad Little is briefed on fatal Black Hawk helicopter crash before a news conference Wednesday in Boise. (CNN)Three Idaho Army National Guard members returning from a training exercise died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in snowy, foggy conditions Tuesday night near Boise, the National Guard said.
The three were all trained pilots participating in a routine training mission, a National Guard statement said.
Idaho Army National Guard Col. Christopher Burt said the aircraft was last contacted at 7:45 p.m. After an emergency transmitter locator device aboard the aircraft was activated shortly after 8 p.m., personnel were dispatched to search for the helicopter.
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