TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — In a tragic event, the Army has released the names of four soldiers who died when their military helicopter crashed near a base in Washington state. The victims have been identified as chief warrant officers Andrew Cully, 35, from Sparta, Missouri, and Andrew Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Florida, alongside sergeants Donavon Scott, 25, from Tacoma, Washington, and Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Washington. The helicopter was engaged in a routine flight training exercise west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord at around 9 p.m. when the accident occurred. A spokesperson from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command stated that the investigation is ongoing, with local weather services reporting clear skies and light winds during the incident. Colonel Stephen Smith praised the soldiers as embodying unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that reflects the spirit of the Army. These soldiers were all part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known for its nighttime missions and exceptional proficiency in challenging conditions. This incident adds to a concerning trend, marking the second deadly crash involving the regiment in recent years. In 2023, five special operations soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash during training exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, in March 2024, two soldiers from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord SOAR unit were hospitalized following an Apache helicopter crash at the base.
Tragedy Strikes as Four Soldiers Die in Helicopter Crash Near Tacoma
Tragedy Strikes as Four Soldiers Die in Helicopter Crash Near Tacoma
The Army has confirmed the identities of four soldiers who lost their lives in a helicopter crash during a training exercise near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
In a devastating incident near Tacoma, Washington, four soldiers from the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment were killed when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a routine training flight. The soldiers, whose identities have been released, included Chief Warrant Officers Andrew Cully and Andrew Kraus, along with Sergeants Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, although weather conditions were reported as mostly clear at the time.
