Black Hawk Helicopter Crashes Near Ski Resort, US National Guard Launches Investigation

JAKARTA - Two Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were involved in a practice crash Tuesday morning, crashing near a popular ski resort, the Utah National Guard said.

However, no crew members or skiers at the Snowbird ski resort were injured, according to High Commissioner of the Utah National Guard, Jared Jones, as reported by CNN on February 23.

"Everything is safe. It is a blessing that everyone is okay", Jones said of the accident.

He added that the accident occurred near the Snowbird Mineral Basin area or about 150 yards from Snowbird, Jones said.

Both helicopters sustained some damage in the crash, the Utah National Guard said in a post on Twitter.

"When the first plane landed, part of the main helicopter blade separated and appeared to hit the second helicopter", Jones said.

Separately, reports ABC News, eyewitness Joseph Schafer (23) from Provo, heard a loud bang. He said the sound sounded similar to the ski patrol's explosives controlling an avalanche.

However, when he realized what had happened was an accident and saw the helicopter blades, he was grateful that no one was seriously injured. However, that did lead the ski resort to shut down lifts and trams near the crash site.

Other skiers and snowboarders also said they heard the sound and saw dust rising from the crash site under their chairlifts. Some people could see the broken blades of the propeller in the wreckage of the crash site.

To note, Snowbird is known as one of the top ski and snowboard destinations in the country due to the abundance of snowfall and variety of terrain. The two UH-60 helicopters crashed near the Mineral Basin, a normally windswept gorge at the rear of the resort known for its expert terrain.

Jones said it was routine for pilots to practice landing in difficult areas, regardless of weather conditions to prepare for battle, but it was rare for them to crash.

He did not provide information on the cause of the crash but said efforts were being made to investigate the incident, as well as to remove damaged equipment from the slopes of the mountain.

"We train on the edge, so we're prepared for a combat environment anywhere in the world. The crew assumes some level of risk. Every time you fly a helicopter there's a bit of danger involved. I'm just glad everyone is okay."

The crash came about a year after two similar helicopter crashes. In January 2021, a UH-60 Black Hawk crashed during a training exercise, killing three people in New York. The following month, a similar accident killed three people in Boise, Idaho.