By Phil Helsel and Chantal Da Silva -
NBC News
Two US Army Blackhawk helicopters crashed during training in Kentucky on Wednesday night, causing multiple casualties, authorities said.
“We can confirm that two 101st aircraft were involved in a crash last night that resulted in multiple casualties,” the 101st Airborne Division, the US Army's only air assault division, said in a tweet early Thursday.
"Right now our attention is focused on the soldiers and their families who were involved," they added.
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The accident occurred around 10 pm (11 pm ET) during training in Trigg County, west of the Fort Campbell Army base, the base said in a statement early Thursday.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said fatalities are expected.
“We have some tough news out of Fort Campbell, with first reports of a helicopter crash and fatalities expected,” Beshear tweeted.
He said state police and local officials are responding.
"Please pray for all those affected," Beshear asked in the message.
Kentucky State Police were at the scene of the helicopter crash, along with military investigators and several other agencies, the department said in a news release Thursday morning.
The status of the personnel aboard the helicopters could not yet be confirmed.
Speaking to reporters after the crash, state police said the incident took place in a partly wooded field area.
He indicated that a perimeter had been established around the debris field.
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A news conference on the accident is expected to be held at 9 am local time (10 am ET) on Thursday, Fort Campbell officials said in a news release.
Nicknamed
the Screaming Eagles
, the 101st Airborne Division was activated on August 16, 1942, and is based near the Kentucky-Tennessee border.
