Army identifies nine soldiers killed in helicopter collision

On Friday, the U.S. Army officials made public the names of the nine soldiers who died in a helicopter collision when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a training mission at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, on Wednesday.

The soldiers were assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and their ages ranged from 23 to 36.

“Now is the time for grieving and healing,” said Maj. Gen. J.P. McGee, the commanding general of the installation and of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the 101st Airborne Division deputy commander, said the teams were training to fly in aircraft formations with night vision goggles. No specific cause of the crash has been identified yet.

The incident is the deadliest aviation accident since 2015 when 11 service members were killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash off the coast of Florida.

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The loss of these nine soldiers will be felt throughout the Army community for years to come.

The names of those who died are Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33; Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36; Sgt. Isaac J. Gayo, 27; Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25; Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32; Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32; and 23-year-old Sgt. David Solinas Jr.