4 Soldiers Dead After Helicopter Crashes During Routine Nighttime Training Exercise, Army Says

U.S. Army officials have confirmed the deaths of four soldiers who were killed last week when their helicopter crashed in Washington state during a routine training flight.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 17, as the group was flying an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in a rural area near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to a statement from U.S. Army Special Operations Command shared with PEOPLE.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said rescue efforts were delayed because the crash site was on fire, which caused first responders’ footwear to overheat.

The soldiers who died were Chief Warrant Officers Andrew Cully, 35, from Sparta, Mo., and Andrew Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Fla., along with Sergeants Donavon Scott, 24, from Tacoma, Wash., and Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Wash., according to a release from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs office.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the loss of four courageous Night Stalkers from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), who tragically lost their lives on Sept. 17th during a training mission,” Col. Stephen Smith, commander, said in a statement.

Smith remembered the soldiers for their “unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence.”

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is nicknamed “the Night Stalkers,” according to Stars and Stripes, which reports that the unit “trains to insert Navy SEALs, Delta Force, U.S. Army Rangers, and other specialty units into combat, often behind enemy lines.”

All four soldiers had previously received the Meritorious Service Medal and other recognitions, Army officials said.

“Their sacrifice in service to our nation will forever be remembered in our hearts and in the legacy of the Night Stalkers,” Smith added. “These heroes were not only elite professionals but also cherished teammates, friends, and family members whose absence leaves an immeasurable void.”

Officials are still investigating the cause of the fatal crash.

“As we mourn their loss, we stand united in honoring their memory and their extraordinary commitment to the mission. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Night Stalker community during this profoundly difficult time,” Smith said.