Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says a New York National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter carrying three soldiers has crashed into an open field near West Bloomfield Road in Mendon, New York.
MCSO has confirmed that a military helicopter with allegedly 3 souls on board has crashed into a field on W. Bloomfield Rd. In Mendon at 6:32 PM. W. Bloomfield rd. Btwn Cheese Factory & Boughton Hill Rd. remains closed. Grateful to our 1st responder partners:
– Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (@monroesheriffny) January 21, 2021
Monroe County officials say they received calls for a plane in need around 6:30 p.m.
Rescue teams shot down a New York National Guard Blackhawk. They say the plane was completely on fire when the crews arrived at the scene.
Officials say the three soldiers, believed to be members of the New York National Guard, were killed.
The New York National Guard is on its way to the crime scene to investigate. The FAA will also investigate the incident.
According to 911 reports, officials say the plane was flying very low and there were reports of the engine sputtering.
Officials say there is debris the size of a few city blocks
The New York National Guard says the helicopter was stationed at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport and crashed on a routine training mission.
They are trying to identify the soldiers who were on board.
RELATED | Rise in subway attacks sparks movement to provide safe escorts in NYC
The aircraft was assigned to C Company of the First Battalion.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was devastated by the crash and will raise flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half staff on Thursday.
Tonight we were devastated by the crash of a New York Army National Guard helicopter in the city of Mendon, which killed three of New York’s bravest on a training mission.
I’ll lower the flags on all state buildings to half staff tomorrow.
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/ztSnTwD4V1
– Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 21, 2021
West Bloomfield Road between Cheese Factory Road and Boughton Hill Road was closed during the investigation.
———-
* Get eyewitness news delivered
* Follow us on YouTube
* More local news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for important news alerts Submit a news tip
Copyright © 2021 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.