WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The five soldiers killed in a helicopter crash over the Mediterranean Sea on Friday have been identified as U.S. Army Special Operations aviation soldiers.
The Department of Defense (DoD) said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer of Clarksville, Tennessee, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes of Sacramento, California, Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, of Gorham, New Hampshire, Sgt. Andrew P. Southard of Apache Junction, Arizona, and Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe of Mankato, Minnesota were aboard when the crash happened.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the fallen," the DoD said in a release on Monday.
The soldiers were performing an aerial refueling training when the MH-60 Blackhawk "experienced an in-flight emergency resulting in the crash." The DoD said there is no sign that hostile activity contributed to the incident.
"While we continue to gather more information about this deadly crash, it is another stark reminder that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe," the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement. "They represent the best of America. We will remember their service and their sacrifice."
The U.S. Army's Combat Readiness Center is investigating the crash.
Army aviation special operations forces are assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The group has almost 3,000 soldiers and more than 200 aircraft, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The U.S. has built up its force presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
There are currently four helicopter squadrons from Hampton Roads deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean with two carrier strike groups. Additionally, U.S. Air Force squadrons have received additional crews and warplanes, and U.S. special operations forces have been added to help Israel in efforts to rescue hostages taken into Gaza.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.