Four soldiers aboard Black Hawk that crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord believed to be dead: Army

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Four soldiers are believed to be dead after a military helicopter crashed in the state of Washington Wednesday night near Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs in a statement on Friday said the four soldiers assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) who were aboard the MH-60 Black Hawk are believed to be dead.

Law enforcement, firefighters and specialty personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, are conducting recovery efforts, according to the Army.

“Our hearts are with the families, friends, and teammates of these Night Stalkers,” USASOC Commander Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga wrote in a statement. “They were elite warriors who embodied the highest values of the Army and the Army Special Operations, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten. We thank the skilled professionals who are working tirelessly, around the clock to bring our Soldiers home.”

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Army officials previously told Fox News Digital the “aviation mishap” happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday in a rural area.

“We have been advised that the military lost contact with a helicopter in the area, and we are working closely with JBLM to deploy any resources needed to assist,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a statement on Facebook.

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The base is about 10 miles south of Tacoma under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.