Army orders stand-down for its helicopter units following 2 deadly crashes
The Army has ordered all of its helicopters to put in place a 24-hour safety stand-down following two deadly crashes that have killed 12 soldiers in the last 30 days. The U.S. Army has ordered a 24-hour safety stand-down of its aviation units next week following two deadly mid-air collisions in the last thirty days, including Thursday's crash of two Apache helicopters in Alaska that killed three soldiers and left another injured. That crash followed the deadly March 29 collision of two HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter s near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, that killed 9 Army soldiers aboard. "Army Chief of Staff James McConville today ordered an aviation stand down following two deadly helicopter mishaps that claimed the lives of twelve soldiers," said an Army statement. "The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training." "The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down ...