UH-60 Black Hawk multirole helicopter

UH-60s have been hardened against electromagnetic interference (EMI) following unexpected EMI that affected hydraulic systems and, in at least one instance, caused a UH-60's stabilator to pitch the aircraft down as it flew near a German broadcasting tower. The hydraulic logic module, which commands the stabilator, was heavily shielded as an interim measure. Under a US$46.5 million contract awarded in August 1989, EMI tolerance was increased to 200 volts per meter, which conferred...

2003

In January 2003, four U.S. soldiers died when their Black Hawk crashed conducting night training near Camp Jersey, Kuwait.

On April 2, 2003, six soldiers died in a UH-60 Black Hawk crash in Iraq; enemy fire was not blamed.

2012

A U.S. Army Black Hawk crashed on April 19, 2012, in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. All four personnel onboard the helicopter were killed in the crash. Officials at the time said there was poor weather at the time, but that enemy action could not be ruled out as a possible cause of the crash.

A U.S. Black Hawk crashed in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Aug. 16, 2012, killing all onboard. Seven U.S. personnel and four Afghans were killed in the crash. The cause of the crash was not immediately reported.

2014

A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk crashed near Salthouse, U.K., during a low-level training mission on Jan, 7, 2014. All four personnel onboard were killed. The aircraft was assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath. An investigation found that geese penetrated the windscreen of the helicopter, disabling the pilot and co-pilot. The Pave Hawk was flying over grass-covered marshland when geese, likely startled by the noise, rose in flight and hit the helicopter, which was flying about 110 ft (34 m) above the ground. Investigators said that at least three geese hit the windscreen, rendering the pilot, co-pilot and aerial gunner unconscious. One goose also hit the nose of the aircraft, disabling the trim and flight path stabilization systems, according to the investigation. The helicopter crashed about three seconds after being struck by the geese, the report said.

On Jan. 15, 2014, an MH-60M helicopter assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, experienced a "hard landing during routine military flight training" at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. One soldier was killed and two others were injured in the incident.

2016

A Turkish S-70 helicopter crashed in the Tohumluk highlands of the Alucra district of Turkey's northern Giresun province on July 5, 2016. The aircraft was carrying 15 people, including a regional gendarmerie commander, who were returning from visits to military posts for the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Seven people were killed and eight injured in the crash. Poor weather was blamed.

2018

A Mexican UH-60 Black Hawk crashed on Feb. 16, 2018, during an operation to assess damage after an earthquake in the southern part of the country. The Black Hawk, carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete and Oaxaca state Gov. Alejandro Murat, was attempting to land in the town of Jamiltepec, about 20 mi (32 km) from the earthquake's epicenter, when the pilot lost control. The helicopter crashed into several vehicles full of people escaping houses damaged in the earthquake, killing 14 and injuring at least 21. Those in the helicopter suffered only minor injuries. Locals questioned why the helicopter would try to land in darkness, reported the Los Angeles Times.

A Colombian Black Hawk helicopter went down on Oct. 20, 2018, killing all four crewmembers onboard. The aircraft was returning from a counter-drug operation when it crashed between the cities of Balboa and Argelia in western Colombia, reported Agence France-Presse. The Black Hawk was returning to the Jose Hilario Lopez base in Popayan when it disappeared from radar. Search efforts following the crash were impeded by poor weather, officials said.

2020

A Taiwanese UH-60M went down in the mountainous part of northern Taiwan on Jan. 2, 2020, killing eight personnel onboard, including Gen. She Yi-ming, the chief of General Staff. Five others survived the crash. The general was headed to visit troops in Yilan country when the helicopter crashed. Taiwanese air force officials said that the helicopter was not in "ideal" condition and that an investigation had been launched, reported CNN.

Taiwan's Central News Agency reported on July 21, 2020, that the chief of the weather center at the Air Force Weather Wing No. 8 Base and another officer at the center were being impeached for negligence in weather reporting that was partly responsible for the Jan. 2 Black Hawk crash. An initial probe into the crash found that it was likely caused by a combination of human factors and a sudden weather change in the mountains. The air force said that the pilot tried to pull up to obtain visibility after flying into clouds that had unexpectedly developed in the area before crashing into the mountain. The air force had previously punished five air force officers in relation to the crash. A final investigation was expected to be completed by January 2021.

On Jan. 15, 2020, the Taiwanese military announced that its 44 UH-60M helicopters had resumed flying operations after being grounded following the Jan. 2 crash. The aircraft  passed safety checks before returning to flight status, officials said. Eight Black Hawks assigned to the interior ministry had resumed flying on Jan. 9.

A U.S. Army Special Operations Command MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed on San Clemente Island, Calif., killing two crewmembers on Aug. 27, 2020. Three other personnel were injured. The accident involved members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, unnamed officials told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The helicopter was taking part in routine training when it went down. San Clemente Island is home to an airfield, bombing range and training range for special operations troops. The cause of the crash was under investigation. 

2022

On Feb. 22, 2022, two Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawks crashed during a training exercise near Snowbird ski resort, near Salt Lake City. The helicopters went down in a "training accident" near the Mineral Basin area southeast of the resort, reported the Salt Lake Tribune. No crewmembers were injured but both aircraft were damaged, officials said. The Black Hawks were attempting to land at an approved landing zone as part of a routine exercise. During the landing, the rotor downwash from the helicopters kicked up fresh snow, likely causing the first aircraft to lose sight of the ground. Witness videos showed a rotor blade separating from the first Black Hawk and striking the second. The struck was able to quickly land, said the officials. The cause of the crash was under investigation.

A soldier from the 3rd Infantry Division's combat aviation brigade was killed in an incident involving two Black Hawk helicopters at Wright Army Airfield, Ga., on March 30, 2022, reported the Army Times. An investigation later determined that the officer appeared to have crashed one helicopter, then run to a second, which he subsequently crashed, causing a large explosion that killed him, reported Military.com on June 28, 2023. Investigators ruled the death a suicide.

A UH-60 operated by the Taliban went down during a training flight in Kabul on Sept. 10, 2022, reported Deutsche Welle. The helicopter, left behind when the Taliban seized power in 2021, crashed on the grounds of the National Defense University due to a technical malfunction, officials said. Three crewmembers were killed and five others injured in the crash. Unverified video posted on social media showed the Black Hawk flying at low altitude when it suddenly nosedived into the ground.