The Department of Defense announced Monday morning the deaths of five U.S. Army Special Operations aviation Soldiers killed during routine flight training as a result of a helicopter crash.
The crash occurred late Friday night in the Mediterranean Sea and there are no indications the crash was caused by enemy or hostile actions.
The deceased include:
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38 of Clarksville, Tennessee
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California
- Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, 26, of Gorham, New Hampshire
- Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona
- Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota.
The MH-60 Blackhawk was conducting aerial refueling training when the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency resulting in the crash.