Austin woman among nine soldiers killed in Army helicopter crash in Kentucky

Megan Menchaca, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
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An Austin woman was one of nine soldiers killed in a helicopter crash near Fort Campbell, Ky., on Wednesday night, the U.S. Army announced Friday.

All nine soldiers died in the accident involving two U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters in Trigg County, Ky., during a routine nighttime training exercise about 10 p.m. Wednesday. On Friday, the Army identified the soldiers — including 23-year-old Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos of Austin — after notifying all the victims' families.

Bolanos enlisted in the Army in 2019, attended basic training in South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training in Virginia, according to WATE 6 News, a Knoxville TV station. She had been assigned as a UH-60 helicopter repairer and UH-60 air crew member for the Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division since March 2020, the station reported. She served nine months in Germany in support of Atlantic Resolve in 2020.

Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23, was one of nine soldiers killed in a helicopter accident Wednesday night near Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23, was one of nine soldiers killed in a helicopter accident Wednesday night near Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the 101st Airborne Division deputy commanding general for operations, told The Associated Press that four people were in one helicopter and five were in the other. He said the helicopters crashed in a field with no injuries on the ground. It's not yet clear what caused the crash.

"This is a truly tragic loss for these families, our division and Fort Campbell," Lubas said in a statement. "Our number one priority is caring for the families and the soldiers within our combat aviation brigade."

All of the soldiers were members of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Campbell.

"This is a time of great sadness for the 101st Airborne Division. The loss of these soldiers will reverberate through our formations for years to come," said Maj. Gen. JP McGee, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell. "Now is the time for grieving and healing. The whole division and this community stand behind the families and friends of our fallen Soldiers."

An Army aviation safety team from Fort Rucker, Ala., is conducting an investigation into the accident, according to a news release.

"Our entire Fort Campbell community is surging resources in support,” Lubas said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with these families and soldiers during this difficult time.”

9 Fort Campbell soldiers in helicopter crash named

Besides, Bolanos, the soldiers who died in the crash are:

  • Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Fla.

  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Mo.

  • Sgt. Isaacjohn Gayo, 27, of Los Angeles.

  • Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25, of Morehead City, N.C.

  • Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32, of Cape Coral, Fla.

  • Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30, of Mountain Brook, Ala.

  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith. 32. of Rolla, Mo.

  • Sgt. David Solinas Jr, 23, of Oradell, N.J.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fort Campbell helicopter crash victims identified, includes Texan