Military helicopter from Joint Base Lewis-McChord experiences crash in the state of Washington, USA
In a sudden turn of events, a U.S. Army helicopter assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord crashed in Washington state not far from the base on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred in the Summit Lake area, west of Olympia.
The military has lost contact with the helicopter, and the crash site has been located, but rescue efforts have been halted due to a fire that sparked from the crash. The fire has grown to 1 acre (0.4 hectares) by Thursday morning, and staff with the state natural resources are working diligently to battle the blaze.
Multiple agencies, including the military and the local fire protection district, are involved in the ongoing efforts to control the fire. The King County Guardian 1 helicopter and special operation rescue units have responded to the crash site.
The helicopter involved in the crash was a Black Hawk, specifically an MH-60M Black Hawk, as confirmed by the Army. The crash occurred during a routine training mission. No details were released about the helicopter or its passengers, and no immediate word was given about the number of people aboard the helicopter or their conditions.
Army spokesperson Ruth Castro stated that professionals and skilled personnel are addressing the situation. In her statement, she reiterated that they are working tirelessly to manage the situation. The Army is fully cooperating with law enforcement in the aftermath of the crash.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders made an announcement about the crash on Facebook, urging locals to avoid the area. The Joint Base Lewis-McChord is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma.
The incident has sparked a search mission, with the Army and other agencies working together to locate any survivors and gather more information about the crash. The crash site is currently a complex scene, and the situation is being closely monitored.
Our thoughts are with the crew and passengers of the helicopter, and we will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
