Nine brave U.S. - U.S. On Wednesday night, Army soldiers lost their lives in a tragic training accident in Trigg County, Kentucky. Two Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air, resulting in the deaths of four Afghanistan war veterans, several medical professionals and four pilots. The victims ranged in age from 23 to 36. They included Warrant Officer Zachary Barnes, 33, from Milton, Florida; Warrant Officer Brian Bolanos, 23, from Austin, Texas; Warrant Officer Esteban Esparza, 36, from Jackson, Mississippi; Crew Chief Gayo, 27, from Los Angeles, California; Flight Medic James Gore, 25, from Morehead City, North Carolina; Warrant Officer Richard Healy, 32, from Cape Coral, Florida; Flight Medic Brandon Mitchell, 30, from Mountain Brook
The cause of the crash is still unknown, as no distress calls were heard by either aircraft. The pilots were using night vision goggles to conduct the flight. In response to the tragedy, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell paid tribute to the victims, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his condolences and pledged to work with the Army leadership to address the incident. Congressman Mark Green of Tennessee offered his condolences also and noted that the incident was a reminder of the sacrifice of those who serve.
In an effort to prevent similar accidents in the future a safety team from Fort Rucker, Alabama was sent to Kentucky to investigate the crash. The Pentagon has not yet ordered a military-wide review of helicopter safety but if the investigation team finds something systemic, other Black Hawks could be grounded. *
The tragic accident serves as a poignant reminder of the daily sacrifice made by the U.S. Servicemembers and their families The victims will be remembered for their courage and their devotion to duty.