WASHINGTON: Two US Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Kentucky during a training mission, killing nine soldiers, a military spokesman said Thursday.

The helicopters belonged to the 101st Airborne Division, whose spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Hoefler said the nine soldiers had died.

The crash occurred at around 10:00 pm (0300 GMT) Wednesday in Kentucky’s Trigg county, northwest of Fort Campbell, the base said.

“The crew-members were flying two HH60 Blackhawk helicopters during a routine training mission when the incident occurred,” it said in a statement, adding that the incident is under investigation.

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