Two Injured in Colorado Army Helicopter Crash

June 30, 2010

COLORADO SPRINGS, June 30 (UPI) — Two pilots of an Army helicopter were injured when their craft made a hard landing in foothills west of Colorado Springs, Colo., Army officials said.

The crash happened at 1:30 a.m. as the pilots took part in high-altitude training — including flying night-vision missions — to prepare for operations in Afghanistan, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

The two pilots suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at a local hospital, the newspaper said.

The Army said the helicopter is part of the 10th Mountain Division’s 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, N.Y., training at Colorado’s Fort Carson.

Army aviation units train pilots and flight crews at Fort Carson because of its mountainous terrain, the Gazette said.

The brigade is expected to deploy to Afghanistan in August.