US Apache Helicopter Sparks Wildfire After Striking Power Lines, Crashing in Washington

A U.S. military helicopter nearly sparked a disaster on Friday afternoon after hitting power lines during a routine flight in Washington State, according to authorities.

The helicopter, an Army Apache, was in the middle of a “routine training exercise” when it was flying over Grant County, Washington, according to a Facebook post from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

More details were shared in a Facebook post from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, which said multiple units, including police officers, land management rangers, and firefighters, responded to the crash. 

Around 4:40 p.m. local time on Friday, the helicopter made a “hard landing after striking power lines over the Columbia River,” the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said. 

There were no fatalities, and all crew members aboard were “okay,” according to the sheriff’s office. The 16th Combat Aviation Brigade characterized the incident as “an aviation mishap,” adding that pilots aboard the helicopter were transported to the Yakima Training Center “for evaluation by military medical personnel.”

A wildfire that had been set off in the crash was “under control” by 5:45 p.m., officials said, but the downed power lines remained in the river and across State Route 243. Grant PUD, a public utility provider in the area, said in a Facebook post that dozens of customers lost briefly power after the helicopter crashed. 

An investigation is ongoing.