Skagit County woman among soldiers killed in JBLM training crash

Four soldiers died in a helicopter crash during routine training near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state on Wednesday. The victims included chief warrant officers Andrew Cully, 35, from Missouri, and Andrew Kraus, 39, from Florida, as well as sergeants Donavon Scott, 25, from Tacoma, Washington, and Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Washington. The helicopter, an MH-60 Black Hawk, crashed around 9 p. m. while conducting a training mission west of the base.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, with clear skies and light winds reported at the time. Col. Stephen Smith stated that the soldiers exemplified the dedication and excellence of the Army. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as Night Stalkers, specializes in nighttime missions and operates worldwide. This incident marks the second deadly crash involving this elite unit in recent years, following a 2023 crash that claimed five lives during a routine air refueling mission.