A U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a forest near a motorway in south-western Germany, police in the state of Hesse said on Wednesday, and German media said two people had been killed. A spokesman for the U.S. Army Europe said there were at least three people in the Black Hawk, a transport helicopter.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the crash and the spokesman could not say where the helicopter was flying to or from. Many parts of Germany have had heavy snowfall in the last day or two.
The crash happened near a motorway junction at Viernheim and Lorsch, near Heidelberg.
The U.S. Army Europe has headquarters in Heidelberg and U.S. forces have an airbase not far away in Ramstein.
I just found out actually. I was at my bowling league and saw this as soon as I got home.
I am trying to get some information. The helicopter might be from my buddies unit. He is a TI up there. I tried to call him, but he is not going on his phone.
I am actually surprised they were flying. The weather here has been terrible all day with heavy snow and low ceilings.
I find it hard to believe they were flying. The weather was terrible all day yesterday over most parts of Germany. High winds and low cielings with heavy snow and probably icing conditions.
I am going to check and see what the weather was like up around Mannheim. AFN radio said it was just south of Mannheim, while attempting to land there. Maybe the weather was not too bad up there, or they could have been on an IFR flight anyhow. Who knows? Best not to speculate.