US Army pilots are temporarily grounded after two fatal helicopter crashes

An Army statement said pilots still participating in missions will be required to remain on the ground for at least 24 hours in May to complete required training. The army stated that during the exercises, safety procedures and aircraft maintenance were discussed.

Three US soldiers were killed in Alaska on Thursday when two Apache helicopters returning from a training mission collided. The two helicopters crashed for unknown reasons near the town of Hailey, about 80 miles southwest of Fairbanks, in central Alaska. Two passengers succumbed to their injuries on the spot and the third died on the way to hospital. The two helicopters were each carrying two people at the time of the crash.

In March, nine Kentucky soldiers were killed when two Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed during a routine nighttime training exercise about 30 miles northeast of Fort Campbell.