The U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) confirmed Friday that four elite soldiers are presumed dead after an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a routine training mission west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Wednesday night.
The helicopter, assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) — known as the Night Stalkers — went down around 9 p.m., sparking a small wildfire near Summit Lake, west of Olympia. Firefighters contained the blaze to about 1.25 acres, while recovery teams worked cautiously at the crash site.
SUPPORT THE FAMILY - GOD BLESS YOU
“Our hearts are with the families, friends, and teammates of these Night Stalkers,” said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC commander. “They were elite warriors who embodied the highest values of the Army and Army Special Operations, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Officials have not released the soldiers’ names, pending notification of their families.
The crash marks another aviation tragedy for the base, located about 10 miles south of Tacoma. In March 2024, two soldiers were hospitalized after an Apache helicopter accident during a training flight.
Recovery efforts and an investigation into the cause of Wednesday’s crash remain ongoing.