Two US Army AH-64 Apache Helicopters Crash in Alaska, Marking Second Military Helicopter Incident in State This Year
On Thursday, April 27th, two US Army AH-64 Apache helicopters crashed in Alaska while returning from a training flight. This marks the second accident involving military helicopters in the state this year. Military officials have said that each helicopter was carrying two people, however, no information about the individuals has been released at this time.[0] The cause and nature of the crash remain unclear and the incident is currently being investigated.[0] The AH-64 Apache helicopters were from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Wainwright, based near Fairbanks.[0]
The AH-64 is an attack helicopter that has a crew of two – a pilot and a co-pilot gunner – according to the Army’s website.[1] Typically, the AH-64 carries two passengers.[2] According to bnonews.com, there were a total of four crew members on board the two helicopters at the time of the crash.[2] The incident is the second serious Apache crash in Alaska this year, as in February, two soldiers were injured when a military helicopter was involved in a rollover accident in Talkeetna.
This marks the second incident this year in which two military helicopters collided in the United States. During a regular nighttime training exercise in March, two US Army Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed approximately 30 miles north-east of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, resulting in the loss of nine soldiers.[3] The incident marked the deadliest aviation accident in the US military in over four years.
Healy, where the helicopters crashed, is located in Denali Borough, around 180 miles northeast of the Alaskan capital of Anchorage.[4] The incident has been confirmed by the 11th Airborne Division, who tweeted “Two AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Wainwright, crashed today near Healy, Alaska, returning from a training flight.”
This recent incident highlights the dangers that military personnel can face during training exercises. The US Army has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its soldiers and to provide them with the necessary equipment and training to perform their duties. The investigation into this incident will provide more information on what caused the crash and how similar accidents can be prevented in the future.
0. “Two US Army helicopters crash during training in Alaska” PardaPhash, 28 Apr. 2023, https://english.pardaphash.com/two-us-army-helicopters-crash-during-training-in-alaska/
1. “Two Army Apache helicopters crash in Alaska” NBC News, 28 Apr. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-apache-helicopters-crash-alaska-rcna81913
2. “Two US Army AH-64 Apache helicopters crash near Healy in Alaska” Euro Weekly News, 28 Apr. 2023, https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/04/28/breaking-two-us-army-ah-64-apache-helicopters-crash-near-healy-in-alaska/
3. “US Army helicopters crash on return from training flight in Alaska” Express, 28 Apr. 2023, https://www.express.co.uk/news/us/1763802/US-Army-helicopters-US-Army-Apaches-Apaches-Alaska-Apaches-crash
4. “US: 2 Army helicopters crash in Alaska on training flight” Free Press Journal, 28 Apr. 2023, https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/us-2-army-helicopters-crash-in-alaska-on-training-flight
