Four soldiers were declared dead after the crash of a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the U.S. Army on Wednesday night (17), in a rural area near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
The victims were members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as Night Stalkers, and were considered the best helicopter pilots in the Army, performing Special Operations missions for SEAL Team 6 and Delta Force.
Local and military authorities attempted to reach the crash site but were hindered by a fire caused by the crash, which spread rapidly.
Sheriff Derek Sanders of Thurston County reported that the rescue team was able to locate the area but could not proceed due to the intense fire: “We were unable to continue the rescue efforts because the area was on fire, and it was starting to overheat our boots.”
Recovery efforts continue, and the names of the soldiers have not been released yet. The commander of USASOC, Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga, praised the soldiers in a statement. “Our hearts are with the families, friends, and teammates of these Night Stalkers. They were elite warriors who embodied the highest values of the Army and the Army’s Special Operations, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Army confirmed that the helicopter was on a routine training flight when contact was lost with the aircraft.
Source: New York Post / ABC | Photo: X @Osint613 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
MH-60 160th SOAR crash in Washington last night. 🙏
Per AP: TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Four service members were aboard a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, the Army said in a release Thursday. The Army did not… pic.twitter.com/uX5TmZp7US
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 18, 2025
