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Storm at Fort Carson damages helicopters

A severe thunderstorm storm damaged helicopters at Fort Carson Thursday evening at Butts Army Heliport.

“This weather event had a significant impact to our fleet. I am grateful there were no injuries,” said Col. Nicholas Ploetz, commander, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, in a news release. “Our soldiers are resilient and will do what is necessary to recover our equipment and continue to perform our mission.”

A storm that rolled in around 8 p.m. damaged Apaches, Chinooks and Black Hawks belonging to the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. Facilities on the heliport also have minor damage, a news release said.

A Fort Carson spokeswoman said the impact to training will be based on the investigation and totality of damage to the aircrafts.

A video circulating on social media purporting to show the storm depicts torrential rain and wind and helicopters blown over.

KOAA’s Meteorologist Alex O’Brien said in addition to heavy rain, Butts Army Airfield saw wind gusts up to 54 mph.

An AH-64E Apache at Fort Carson in 2018. (the Gazette file)
An AH-64E Apache at Fort Carson in 2018. (the Gazette file)


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