US Army team to lead investigation into deadly Minnesota National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crash
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Safety Investigation Team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker in Alabama was deployed to St. Cloud, Minnesota Friday to lead the investigation into Thursday’s crash involving a Minnesota National Guard Black Hawk helicopter that killed three soldiers.
Officials said the UH-60 Black Hawk was conducting a maintenance test flight from the St. Cloud Aviation Facility when the crash occurred. The helicopter took off at 1:55 p.m. Nine minutes later, there was a mayday call and the helicopter lost communication with ground crews.
Crews located the wreckage from the crash a short time later at the edge of a farm field about 15 miles south of St. Cloud.
The helicopter and crew were part of the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. Officials expect to release the identities of the victims on Saturday.
The investigation into the fatal crash will is expected to last several days.