Black Hawk flight data recorders recovered, sent to Fort Rucker for crash analysis
An aviation safety team from Fort Rucker, Ala. has recovered the flight data recorders from the two HH-60 Black Hawks involved in the helicopter crash that killed nine soldiers last Wednesday.
The recorders, known as a "black box" in a civilian aircraft, have been sent back to Fort Rucker for further analysis in the ongoing investigation, according to an announcement Tuesday from Fort Campbell 101st Airborne Division.
Nine soldiers were doing routine medical training using night vision goggles when the two HH-60 Black Hawks crashed in Trigg County, Kentucky at around 10 p.m. Wednesday night. It is still unclear what happened, but at a press conference last Thursday, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the 101st Airborne deputy commander, said the safety team would be coming to investigate the crash.
"We cannot provide a timeline as to when the investigation will be completed," Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) said. "The duration of the investigation is determined by the thorough analysis of all factors."
The remains of the nine soldiers were escorted and honored by various police escorts as they were transferred to Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware, home of the Joint Service Mortuary Affairs Office.
Three of the nine soldiers who died in the incident have been posthumously promoted to the next higher grade. Corp. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos was promoted to Sgt.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3; and Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2.
A media release from Fort Campbell said that an honorary promotion will happen with the families of the fallen soldiers at a later date.
The 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell and Blanchfeild Army Community Hospital are providing a wide range of health services to the soldiers and families affected including Chaplains, the Family Advocacy Program, Military Family Life Consultants, behavioral health professionals and multiple crisis lines available for soldiers, family members and the Fort Campbell community.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Flight data recorders recovered in Fort Campbell Black Hawk crash
