BOISE, Idaho — Three Idaho Army National Guard pilots died Tuesday night in a helicopter crash near Boise, according to authorities.
The pilots, who were not immediately identified, were in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and participating in a routine training flight south of Lucky Peak around 8 p.m. Tuesday. Col. Christopher Burt, the Idaho Army National Guard’s state aviation officer, said officials contacted the helicopter at 7:45 p.m.
Just after 8 p.m., the helicopter’s emergency transmitter locator device was activated, officials said.
Officials began a search and rescue effort a short while later. Around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, search crews found the downed helicopter and the missing pilots, according to authorities.
“This is a tremendous loss to the Idaho National Guard and our community,” Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard, said Wednesday morning in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones as we work through this tragedy.”
The cause of the crash remained unclear Wednesday morning. Authorities continue to investigate.
Cox Media Group
