The helicopter went off during a routine training mission.
Three soldiers were killed after a military helicopter crashed in New York State on Wednesday night, the New York National Guard said.
The UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter, based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport, crashed while on a routine training mission, according to the National Guard in Mendon, New York.
The helicopter went off in an open field at 6:32 p.m., the sheriff in Monroe County said. According to 911 calls, the plane flew very low and there were reports of engine tampering, authorities said during a press conference on Wednesday night.
The sheriff’s office responded to the crash, as did state police and representatives of the U.S. military. The plane was engulfed in flames when the first responders arrived, authorities said.
The waste field of the crash is as large as a few city blocks, authorities said. The road near the accident site remained closed.
The sheriff’s office did not name the cause of the accident.
The aircraft was assigned to the C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, according to the New York National Guard.
Flags of all state buildings will be lowered to half staff on Thursday in honor of the soldiers, New York Government Andrew Cuomo said.
“The members of the National Guard are our civilian soldiers who volunteer and protect here and on board, and I express my condolences to all the New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes we will never forget,” Cuomo said. said. in a statement.
The New York National Guard and Federal Aviation Administration are conducting an investigation.
ABC News’ Will Gretsky and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
This is an evolving story. Please come and check for updates.