Four Night Stalkers killed in Washington Black Hawk crash near JBLM

Four soldiers from the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the Night Stalkers, were killed when their MH-60 Black Hawk crashed during a routine training mission west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The crash occurred at about 9 p.m. local time Wednesday.

Recovery crews from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and nearby agencies were on the scene, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation by Army officials. The weather in the area was mostly clear with light winds from the south at the time of the incident, according to the National Weather Service.

Soldiers assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment perform worldwide aviation missions for special operations. The unit, nicknamed the Night Stalkers, is trained to conduct nighttime operations with a focus on precision and versatility in all environments. Their mission includes organizing, equipping and employing Army special operations aviation forces around the world.

Senior Army leaders expressed condolences and stressed that the Night Stalkers were elite warriors whose sacrifice would be honored. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of US Army Special Operations Command, said the base would support families and teammates as the investigation proceeds, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll offered prayers for those involved and for the JBLM community.

This incident marks the second deadly crash involving the 160th in recent years. In 2023, five Army aviation special operations personnel were killed when a helicopter crashed in the Eastern Mediterranean during a routine air-refueling mission as part of training. In March 2024, two soldiers from JBLM were hospitalized after an Apache helicopter crash at the base during routine training.

The crash also sparked a small wildfire that grew to about 1.25 acres by Friday morning, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Fire activity was described as minimal, and one engine remained on scene. The Joint Base Lewis-McChord area sits about 10 miles south of Tacoma and falls under the base's jurisdiction. Law enforcement, firefighters and other personnel from the joint base are coordinating the recovery efforts.

Officials said the soldiers' names would be released when appropriate, out of respect for their families. Recovery teams include law enforcement, fire personnel and other specialists from the base as the investigation continues.

As the investigation progresses, Army officials cautioned that there would be no immediate updates beyond those already provided, and they pledged transparency as information becomes available.