Key takeaways:
- The U.S. Army has announced a mandatory aviation stand-down after two fatal helicopter crashes in the last month.
- The move is intended to ensure the safety of aviators and to prevent future accidents.
- The Army is conducting an investigation into both crashes.
The U.S. Army has announced a mandatory aviation stand-down after two fatal helicopter crashes in the last month. On Thursday, three soldiers were killed and a fourth was injured when two Apache helicopters collided in mid-air in Alaska and crashed.
The Army identified the three soldiers killed in the crash as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. Farrar, 33, of Harlan, Kentucky; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher T. Nicholas, 33, of Houlton, Maine. The fourth soldier, who was injured, has not been identified.
The Army said the stand-down will require all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, to complete the required training. The move is intended to ensure the safety of aviators and to prevent future accidents.
“The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville in a statement.
The Army has not released any details on the cause of the crash in Alaska or the other crash in Kentucky that killed seven soldiers in late March. The Army is conducting an investigation into both crashes.
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