BOONEVILLE, MS – A military training mission turned tragic on Friday when an AH-64 Apache helicopter belonging to the Mississippi National Guard crashed in a wooded area near Booneville. The accident resulted in the deaths of two soldiers, as confirmed by the Mississippi National Guard.
The helicopter went down off of Highway 30 in Prentiss County, about 115 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, officials reported. The crash took place during a routine training mission. The identities of the deceased soldiers have not yet been released.
One of the soldiers was affiliated with A Company 1-149 Aviation Regiment Unit and the other with D Company 2-151 Lakota Medical Evacuation Unit. In their official statement, the Mississippi National Guard prioritized providing assistance for the families of the casualties.
The cause of the tragic crash is still under investigation and no further details were able to be shared by the officials at this time. The Mississippi National Guard expressed, “Please keep the members of the Mississippi National Guard and their Families in your thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.”
This tragic incident is an addition to an unsettling series of military flight disasters, with five Marines having lost their lives in a helicopter crash in southern California amid a record-breaking storm just weeks ago. Another accident over three months ago resulted in the deaths of five Army special operations soldiers when their helicopter crashed in the Mediterranean Sea during refueling training.