A Tennessee National Guard helicopter crashed on a highway in northern Alabama Wednesday afternoon, killing two people on board, according to authorities.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed on a highway just north of Huntsville around 3:00 p.m., catching fire upon impact. Authorities reported that two people died in the crash, according to Fox 54. No one on the ground was injured as a result of the crash.
A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that the aircraft belonged to the Tennessee National Guard. The two guardsmen were conducting a training mission when the aircraft spiraled to the ground. Video captured from a doorbell camera in a neighborhood near the crash showed the Black Hawk helicopter spinning out of control before it hit the ground, the Tennessean reported.
A short video of the helicopter crash in Harvest (north of Huntsville) from Savanna Terry pic.twitter.com/v1T5vk4gq5
— James Spann (@spann) February 15, 2023
Witnesses described hearing a loud noise, like a car without a muffler, before hearing a bang.
“We saw it hit the ground and it exploded,” Tammy Adams said, adding. “We knew there could not be anybody surviving that.”
“There’s nothing there, at all,” Chermonica Johnson told WAAY. “You can’t even tell it was an aircraft.”
Alabama state troopers and officers with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department secured the scene on Highway 53 following the crash. State and federal authorities are investigating the crash, according to the Tennessee National Guard.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released a statement Wednesday night on the deadly crash.
“Maria & I are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two Tennessee National Guard members,” he said. “Please join us in lifting their families up in prayer & support during this time of unspeakable grief.”