MILITARY PLANE CRASH 2023: SOLDIERS AVERAGE A CRASH PER MONTH


By bblouin
U.S. service members and their families visit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Sept. 20, 2022.

There have been many trends in the U.S. military throughout the first half of 2023. The renaming of Confederate-linked bases and other landmarks in the military has been ongoing. We’ve seen a renewed interest in the mental health of Sailors as well as the need for improvement in our Navy as a whole. But not every trend has been positive. For example, the military plane crash 2023 trend continues to plague the U.S. Army and National Guard. As it stands, we’re on track for an average of one crash per month, which could see Soldiers totaling at least twelve aircraft for the year. Related read: Military Plane Crashes in 2022 Causing Concerns Among Branches

Military Plane Crash 2023 Trend: A Problem for Soldiers

The horrible military plane crash 2023 trend continues through May, as an AH-64 Apache helicopter from Joint Base Lewis-McChord crashed during a training exercise in Washington. It is the fifth incident involving an Army or National Guard helicopter this year; three have been fatal. The crash occurred on May 13th at Yakima Training Center, leaving two Soldiers from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade injured. They have been treated and released, and the crash is currently being investigated. Investigators are still looking into the latest crash. A team from Fort Novosel, Alabama is looking into the incident at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. These crashes are becoming far too commonplace for the Army and National Guard. So far, 2023 has been less than kind to those serving in the air. Suggested read: Sorry USSF, NASA Is Crashing The International Space Station

Additional Incidents So Far

In February, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Tennessee Army National Guard crashed in Huntsville, Alabama, killing two Soldiers during a training sortie. Additionally, in February, two Soldiers were injured when their AH-64 Apache helicopter rolled over during takeoff at Talkeetna Airport in Alaska. In March, two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, leading to the deaths of nine Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division during a nighttime training event. On April 27, two AH-64 Apache helicopters from Fort Wainwright Alaska collided and crashed, resulting in three Soldiers who were killed and an injury to a fourth soldier. These accidents resulted in a total of 14 Soldiers dead and three injured. As a response, the Army issued a 24-hour stand down and grounded all non-essential flights on April 28. “The safety of our Aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel. During this stand down, we will focus on safety and training protocols to ensure our Pilots and crews have the knowledge, training, and awareness to safely complete their assigned mission,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville on the stand down. The stand down would see Aviators that were on active duty review their flight mission briefing and conduct maintenance training. However, despite these precautions, and the fact that the Soldiers that have crashed in May took part in them, another crash has come all too soon.

A Fix for the Military Plane Crash 2023 Trend

When Soldiers and Guardsmen sign up to serve, there is an understanding that their lives could be endangered or lost in the line of duty. This is war, after all, and the very nature of its training and engagement is a deadly one. But that doesn’t mean that recurring incidents should ever be acceptable. The miracle of flight requires a team of committed people all working toward the same goal, as is the case with the military as a whole. Clearly, there are issues throughout the process and the results are often deadly. It’s highly unlikely the military plane crash 2023 trend is related to or caused by one single issue. However, it still deserves the full attention of the Army and a solid solution for a safer environment for training in the future. Read next: Stand Down Programs: Helping Homeless Veterans with a Hand Up


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