(Washington) The US Army decided on Friday to ground its aircraft for 24 hours, except for essential missions, after the crash of four helicopters in one month.
General James McConville, chief of the American army, “ordered an air flight freeze following two fatal accidents”, Thursday in Alaska and at the end of March in Kentucky, which left three and nine dead respectively, according to a communicated.
Every active Army unit must apply this 24-hour flight suspension next week.
“This decision bans all Army pilots from flying, except those participating in essential missions, until they complete necessary training,” the army added.
Three American soldiers died and another was injured Thursday in the mid-air collision of two Apache attack helicopters, returning from training in Alaska.
At the end of March, nine soldiers died when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a night flying exercise in Kentucky.