Four U.S. Army service members from the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment were aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed during a routine training flight in Thurston County’s Capitol Forest Wednesday night.
The MH-60 Black Hawk went down in the Summit Lake area west of Olympia around 9 p.m., when air traffic controllers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Gray Airfield lost contact with the aircraft, according to U.S. Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith.
Multiple 911 calls reported hearing helicopter sounds followed by a crash in the remote wooded area. When Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies located the crash site, intense flames prevented immediate rescue operations.
“Deputies didn’t have fire protection gear, and the flames were so hot, the soles of their shoes were close to melting,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders posted on social media Wednesday night.
The crash ignited a wildfire that has spread to one acre, prompting response from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. A WADNR fire engine responded Wednesday night, with additional resources deployed Thursday morning to contain the blaze.
Army officials characterized the incident as an “aviation mishap” under investigation, declining to provide information about the service members’ condition. Search and rescue operations continued Thursday with coordination between multiple agencies.
The King County Sheriff’s Office deployed its Guardian 1 helicopter for aerial support, while special operations rescue units from both the county and JBLM responded to the scene. First responders maintained presence at the crash site throughout the night.
Bonneville Power Administration reported downed power lines and fire in the area around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, with crews withdrawing to allow emergency responders access. No customer power outages resulted from the incident.
The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment represents the Army’s most elite helicopter unit, composed of the service’s top pilots who conduct high-profile special operations missions worldwide. The unit’s involvement underscores the crash’s significance within military aviation circles.
The Capitol Forest’s remote, heavily wooded terrain complicates both rescue operations and crash investigation efforts. The area’s dense vegetation contributed to rapid fire spread following the aircraft’s impact.
Military aviation accidents involving special operations units typically trigger comprehensive investigations examining mechanical factors, weather conditions, and operational procedures to prevent future incidents.
