All four soldiers unharmed after MH-60 aviation mishap during routine training near Golden Gate Canyon; investigation under way.
A US Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), known as the Night Stalkers, made an unplanned hard landing in wooded terrain in the Colorado foothills west of Denver on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. All four soldiers aboard escaped without injury, according to military and local officials.
US Army Helicopter Crashes During Training in Colorado:
The incident occurred during routine training operations near Thorodin Mountain, north of Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Gilpin County. Emergency responders from the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene after the aircraft came down in a forested area. Authorities confirmed there were no fuel leaks, fires or immediate threats to the surrounding community.
US Army Special Operations Aviation Command described the event as an “aviation mishap.” In a statement, the 160th SOAR (Airborne) said: “The command takes all training incidents and the safety of our personnel seriously. Because this is currently the subject of an active safety investigation, we cannot provide additional comment or information at this time.”
Footage from the site showed the helicopter resting among trees with visible damage to its main rotor blades. The aircraft, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is part of the specialised fleet operated by the Night Stalkers, a unit renowned for conducting low-altitude, night-time and covert special operations missions in support of US special forces.
Army Investigates Colorado Helicopter Training Crash:
Colorado’s mountainous terrain is frequently used by military aviation units for high-altitude training. The Front Range foothills present challenging conditions of elevation, variable weather and dense woodland that test the skills of even experienced crews.
Local officials reported that nearby campers had heard military helicopter activity throughout the morning but did not hear an impact consistent with a catastrophic crash. The Army has established a presence at the site as investigators examine the circumstances of the mishap.
The 160th SOAR is one of the US military’s most specialised aviation units, tasked with inserting and extracting special operations forces under demanding conditions. Training flights of this nature are a regular part of maintaining readiness, though aviation incidents involving the regiment remain relatively rare. As the formal safety investigation proceeds, questions about the precise sequence of events, mechanical factors or environmental conditions remain unanswered. Military authorities have directed all inquiries to the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command Public Affairs Office.