Military helicopter crashes near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington; investigation underway
Authorities say contact with the helicopter was lost near JBLM; no details released yet
A military helicopter crashed in Washington state near Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Wednesday night, and authorities said an investigation is underway. The crash occurred in the Summit Lake area near the installation, and the military said contact with the aircraft was lost around 9 p.m. local time.
Thurston County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that the helicopter went down in the Summit Lake area and that responders from JBLM were being deployed to assist. A JBLM spokesperson said the incident happened in a rural area near the installation and that information remains developing.
The base added that the situation remains under investigation and that no additional details were available at this time, including the aircraft type, whether anyone was aboard or if there were injuries. Local authorities and JBLM are coordinating to determine what happened and to ensure public safety as the review continues.
Officials have not released casualty information, and they asked the public to refrain from speculation while updates are collected. The incident is being reviewed by military and civilian authorities in coordination with JBLM, with new information expected as the investigation proceeds.
Summit Lake lies to the west of the JBLM installation in rural terrain, an area often used for military aviation operations and training. The crash underscores the risks associated with flight activity near major military installations and in remote areas where responses can be affected by terrain.
This remains a developing story, and officials said updates would be released as more information becomes available from JBLM, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and other responding agencies.
