GILPIN COUNTY, Colo. — A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter with four people on board was involved in an “aviation mishap” during a training exercise in Gilpin County Tuesday morning, a U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command spokesperson confirmed with Denver7. Luckily, no one was injured.
The incident, reported by the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, occurred on the east side of Thorodin Mountain. Emergency personnel were on scene and an investigation immediately followed.
Watch video from the scene of the incident in the player below:
“The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is aware of an August 25, 2026, aviation mishap during routine training operations near Denver, Colorado,” the USASOAC spokesperson wrote in a statement to Denver7 about the incident. “Because this is currently the subject of an active safety investigation, we cannot provide additional comment or information at this time.”
Deputies said in a social media post Tuesday that there was no danger to the surrounding community, along with no fuel leaks or fires associated with the incident.
But in an update Wednesday, the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office said a fuel leak was identified and mitigated during the response.
"We are aware of community concerns regarding potential environmental impacts and are working with the appropriate resources regarding any assessment or testing that may be necessary," a spokesperson for the sheriff's office wrote.
Deputies added that, at this time, they have not received information from public health officials advising of risk to residents in surrounding communities.
"The Sheriff’s Office and OEM will continue to assist the county, state, federal, and military partners with efforts related to site cleanup and the safety of our surrounding community," they said.
USASOAC officials added they are working with "all necessary authorities to ensure impacted individuals are informed as quickly as possible in the event there is an environmental or HAZMAT situation impacting the local community."
Because of the "complicated nature" of the investigation into this incident, USASOAC said they cannot provide an estimated completion date for when findings will be released.
USASOAC officials told Denver7 the Black Hawk was based out of Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
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