Three soldiers with the Minnesota National Guard were killed when the Black Hawk helicopter they were riding in crashed. Gov. Tim Walz confirmed the deaths of the soldiers Thursday, but their names were not released pending notification of family.

The crash is being investigated and preliminary information on the cause of the crash is not being released. The Guard lost contact with the helicopter shortly after it took off on a maintenance test flight from St. Cloud, around 2 p.m. Minnesota National Guard Master Sgt. Blair Heusdens says the helicopter called mayday about nine minutes after takeoff.

The Stearns and Meeker County Sheriff’s department, as well as other law enforcement and area fire departments were searching for nearly two hours for the downed helicopter. It was located about a mile and half southwest of the small town of Marty, on Pearl Lake.

Sergeant Blair Heusdens released this statement shortly after 4 p.m.

Minnesota National Guard statement on missing UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter:
“On or about 2:05 p.m. on December 5, 2019, the Minnesota National Guard lost contact with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while it was conducting a maintenance test flight that originated from St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Minnesota National Guard and local emergency services are currently trying to determine the location and status of the aircraft.

The helicopter had three Minnesota National Guard personnel on board. Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our Guardsmen and our thoughts are with our soldiers and their families at this time. We will be releasing more information as it becomes available.”
Respectfully,
MSG Blair Heusdens–Minnesota National Guard