TACOMA, Wash. — Four Soldiers Killed in Helicopter Crash
The Army has identified four soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash earlier this week.
The victims included Andrew Curry and Andrew Krauss, both chief warrant officers, along with Donabon Scott and Sergeant Jadalyn Goode, whose names were announced on Monday.
Curry, 35, hailed from Sparta, Missouri, while 39-year-old Klaus was from Sanibel, Florida. Scott, just 25, was from Tacoma, Washington, and 23-year-old Goode was from Mount Vernon, Washington.
The helicopter was performing routine flight training west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. This base is located around ten miles south of Tacoma and is managed by the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.
Investigators are looking into the cause of the crash. Reports from the National Weather Service indicated that conditions were mostly clear with light southern winds during the incident.
Colonel Stephen Smith remarked on the dedication and excellence of the soldiers, stating, “They embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the spirit of the Army and Army’s special operations.”
All four were members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, an elite group known for conducting challenging night missions. The MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed around 9 p.m.
The mission of this regiment is to organize, equip, and deploy Army Special Operations Air Forces globally, as detailed on the Army’s official website.
Recognized informally as “night stalkers,” these soldiers are celebrated for their skill in nighttime operations, being highly trained to handle demanding missions with exceptional accuracy.
This incident marks the second deadly crash involving this elite unit in recent years. In 2023, five soldiers from a different Army Air Special Operations unit were killed in a helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean, all part of the same regiment based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Additionally, in March 2024, two soldiers stationed at Lewis-McChord were hospitalized after an Apache helicopter crashed during a regular training exercise.
