Danny Randolph (left) and Daniel Wadham, chief warrant officers within the Tennessee National Guard, had been killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash throughout a coaching flight in Alabama’s Madison County on Wednesday.

Tennessee National Guard

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Tennessee National Guard

Danny Randolph (left) and Daniel Wadham, chief warrant officers within the Tennessee National Guard, had been killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash throughout a coaching flight in Alabama’s Madison County on Wednesday.

Tennessee National Guard

The Tennessee National Guard named the 2 pilots who died in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Madison County, Ala., close to the Tennessee state line, on Wednesday.

Daniel Wadham and Danny Randolph had been killed throughout a coaching flight by which their helicopter “rapidly descended and impacted the ground,” the Tennessee National Guard mentioned in a statement Thursday. Both of them held the rank Chief Warrant Officer 3 and had served for 15 and 13 years, respectively.

They had been approaching the Huntsville Executive Airport when the helicopter crashed close to Alabama Highway 53 and Burwell Road, the Guard mentioned. The reason for the crash remains to be underneath investigation.

“Words cannot express my sorrow for the loss of these two Tennessee National Guardsmen,” mentioned Brigadier Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s adjutant basic.

No different service members or civilians had been harmed, authorities say. They had been the one folks on board.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he and his spouse are “saddened by the tragic loss of two Tennessee National Guard members. Please join us in lifting their families up in prayer & support during this time of unspeakable grief.”

The Madison County Sheriff’s workplace said debris could be scattered across the area near the crash site and requested that individuals do not contact or attempt to transfer it.