Two U.S. Army soldiers were injured Wednesday night in an Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crash during a training exercise at Colorado’s Fort Carson. The helicopter crash is the fourth Apache helicopter incident to be documented over the past two months.
According to The Daily Caller, Fort Carson officials noted that all of the base’s aviation assets had been grounded “until further notice” following Wednesday’s crash. The officials to The Daily Caller that Army Combat Readiness Center investigators from Fort Novosel, Alabama, are currently investigating the incident. Officials also told The Daily Caller that the two Apache helicopter pilots sustained minor injuries, were treated at a local hospital, and were released Wednesday night.
“At approximately 6:30 p.m. a single AH-64 Apache helicopter from the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4thInfantry Division, crashed while conducting routine training on Fort Carson in a southern training area,” Fort Carson officials told The Daily Caller. “We are grateful our Soldiers are safe, and the unit is ensuring the crew, their families and friends are receiving all possible care and support during this time.”
READ MORE: New details in Army helicopter crash revealed: Report
Military.com reported another Apache helicopter accident on Monday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which is located in Washington state. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Bryen Freigo told Military.com that the two soldiers, who were assigned to 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, were injured and transported to a hospital after their helicopter crashed shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday.
Freigo told Military.com that the two soldiers were still in the hospital on Wednesday but were listed in stable condition.
The Daily Caller reported that this week’s two Apache helicopter incidents come after the Army National Guard recorded two additional Apache helicopter crashes on February 12 and February 23.
According to a press release by the National Guard Bureau, Mississippi Army National Guard pilots Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Abbott and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Zemek were killed on February 23 after their helicopter crashed during a training mission. Following the fatal crash, the Army National Guard ordered an aviation safety stand-down for all of the Army National Guard’s helicopter units in order for officials to “review safety policies and procedures.”
Prior to the fatal helicopter accident, an Army National Guard Apache helicopter crash on February 12 in West Jordan resulted in two pilots being injured, according to KUTV.
