Four Army service members are believed dead after their Black Hawk helicopter crashed Wednesday night near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. in a rural area close to Summit Lake, about 20 miles west of Olympia. The soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), the Army confirmed.
- Four service members presumed dead in crash
- Crash occurred near Joint Base Lewis-McChord
- Service members from 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
- Recovery efforts ongoing, cause under investigation
- Names of victims not yet released
- Incident follows October 2024 Navy jet crash
The Army is conducting recovery efforts, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Names of the service members have not been released. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga expressed condolences, honoring their sacrifice and service. The incident follows a September 2025 crash of a Navy jet near Mount Rainier, which killed two crew members.
- The crash happened Wednesday night near Summit Lake, 20 miles west of Olympia.
- The service members belonged to the 160th SOAR (A), known for elite operations.
- Recovery efforts are ongoing; investigation into the crash is active.
- Names of the soldiers involved have not been publicly disclosed.
This incident underscores the dangers military personnel face during training and operations. The military is working tirelessly to recover the fallen and determine the crash cause. The event adds to recent aviation accidents in Washington state, including a Navy jet crash in 2025.
