UPDATE: 3 dead after Black Hawk helicopter crashes after takeoff in Minnesota

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed Thursday night all three Minnesota National Guard soldiers did not survive a crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter.

The helicopter crashed Thursday in central Minnesota, a state National Guard official said.

Minnesota National Guard Master Sgt. Blair Heusdens told the St. Cloud Times the UH-60 crashed near Pearl Lake after it lost contact with the base Thursday afternoon.

The Guard lost contact with the helicopter shortly after taking off on a maintenance test flight from St. Cloud on Thursday afternoon, Heusdens said. The helicopter called mayday about 9 minutes after takeoff.

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The Minnesota National Guard says a Black Hawk helicopter is missing after taking off in central Minnesota.

Guard Master Sgt. Blair Heusdens says the Guard lost contact with the helicopter shortly after it took off from St. Cloud on Thursday afternoon.

Heusdens says the Guard is “working to figure it out.” The Minnesota State Patrol was called to bring in a helicopter to help with the search.

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