Three New York Army National Guard soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday night in New York.
The military helicopter went down at around 6:32 p.m. ET in Monroe County, New York, near Rochester.
WROC-TV anchor Maureen McGuire tweeted, “Military helicopter crash in Mendon (W Bloomfield Rd near Cheese Factory Rd) photo courtesy Emily Fasel.”
The names of the three National Guard soldiers have not been released.
It was also not immediately clear what type of military helicopter was involved in the crash Wednesday night.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) tweeted, “MCSO has confirmed a military helicopter with what is believed to be 3 souls on board went down in a field on W. Bloomfield Rd. In Mendon at 6:32p.m. W. Bloomfield rd. Btwn Cheese Factory & Boughton Hill Rd. remains closed. Grateful for our 1st responder partners.”
“Monroe County Fire Bureau, Mendon Fire, Honeoye Falls Fire, @nyspolice, Fishers Fire Dept., MCSO Victims Assistance, & representatives of U.S. Military. More info@to follow,” the MCSO continued.
MCSO also tweeted video from a press conference, addressing the crash. “‘It is with heavy hearts that we stand before you tonight. Another example that freedom is not free.’ -Sheriff Baxter while addressing media on the tragic military helicopter crash in the Town of Mendon.”
Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said first responders attempted to save the lives of those aboard the crashed helicopter, and a New York State Police helicopter helped search the area in an attempt to find survivors.
Addressing the helicopter crash, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted, “Tonight we are devastated by the crash of a New York Army National Guard helicopter in the town of Mendon that killed three of New York’s bravest during a training mission. I’m directing that flags on all State buildings be lowered to half-staff tomorrow.”
In a photo accompanying his tweet, Cuomo expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers killed and to their fellow soldiers. Cuomo also directed flags across all state buildings to be flown at half-staff on Thursday in honor of those killed Wednesday night.
Wednesday night’s crash comes two months after another military helicopter crash in Sinai, Egypt resulted in the deaths of five U.S. soldiers in November.
In August another two U.S. Army special operations soldiers were killed in a helicopter accident at San Clemente Island, California. Three more people on board the helicopter were also injured.
