3 Pilots Dead, 1 Survives as U.S. Army Helicopters Collide in Alaska

Three Army pilots are dead after two AH-64 Apache helicopters crashed in Alaska while returning from a training flight on Thursday. The 11th Airborne Division confirmed the crash in a statement, saying the helicopters collided in flight near Healy, a town popular as an overnight basecamp for visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve. There were two members aboard each craft at the time of the crash. Two died at the scene while the third died en route to the hospital. Just one survived and is being treated in the hospital. Names will be withheld for 24 hours until next of kin is informed. “This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones, and we are making the full resources of the Army available to support them.” The accident will be investigated by a team from the Army Combat Readiness Center in Alabama, the statement said. The crash comes less than a month after nine service members died when two U.S. Army helicopters crashed in Kentucky during nighttime medical evacuation drills.