Army identifies four soldiers killed in helicopter crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord

The Army identified four soldiers who were killed last week in a helicopter crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state during a routine flight training.

The MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday near the base in Thurston County, Wash., The Hill news outlet reported.

On Monday, Army Special Operations Command identified the deceased soldiers as chief warrant officers Andrew Cully, 35, and Andrew Kraus, 39, and sergeants Donavon Scott, 24, and Jadalyn Good, 23.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the loss of four courageous Night Stalkers from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), who tragically lost their lives on Sept. 17th during a training mission,” said Col. Stephen Smith, commander.

He also said those who died "embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations."

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The skies in Thurston County were mostly clear around the time of the crash, with slight winds from the south and southwest, according to the National Weather Service.

The Thurston County sheriff’s office, based in Olympia, said Wednesday that deputies were dispatched following reports of a possible helicopter crash in the Summit Lake area, west of Olympia.

“We have been advised that the military lost contact with a helicopter in the area,” the sheriff's department said.