UPDATE: 5:12PM: The US Army Military District of Washington confirms one person died and two others were injured in the helicopter crash. It released the following:
Monday, one crew member died and two were injured as a result of a plane crash during a training exercise at approximately 1:37 p.m., at Breton Bay Golf Course in Leonardtown, Maryland.
The UH-60 Blackhawk is from the 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Davison Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. At the time of the incident, it was conducting a routine training flight.
Three crew members were on board. The two injured crew members, one in serious and one in critical condition, are at the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, Maryland. The names will be released upon notification of next-of-kin.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. A team from the Army Combat Readiness Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama will be at the site of the incident, Tuesday, April 18 to conduct the investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss within our community,” said Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. “Our condolences go out to the families and friends affected by this tragedy, and our team is focused on supporting them during this difficult time.”
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UPDATE 3:11PM: Another spokesman at Ft. Belvoir has stated that two of the crewmembers were medically evacuated. Earlier reports had indicated only one med-evac.
WMAL Reporter Steve Burns spoke with an eyewitness who saw the crash:
She drove to the crash site trying to help. Chopper split in half on its side, people trying to shatter windows. “It was just horrific.”
— Steve Burns (@StvBurns) April 17, 2017
EARLIER REPORTING:
LEONARDTOWN. MD — (WMAL) A helicopter has crashed at the Breton Bay Golf Course and Country Club in Leonardtown, MD.
The facebook page for Ft. Belvoir has released info on the incident:
Another spokesman at
A spokesman for the Army confirmed that the downed helicopter was an Army UH-60 Blackhawk.
He also was able to confirm that it was a helicopter assigned to Ft. Belvoir.
He was not able to confirm or deny any fatalities.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
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