CNN: US Army Chief of Staff Grounds Pilots after Recent Crashes

The US Army Chief of Staff has ordered all Army pilots who are not participating in missions to be grounded after two recent helicopter crashes killed 12 soldiers.

CNN said the decision by Army Chief of Staff James McConville grounds all pilots until they complete the required training, according to the Army.

McConville said in a statement that his top priority is pilot safety, and this suspension is an important step in ensuring everything is in place to prevent accidents and protect our people.

Under McConville's direction, Army Airmen will focus on safety and training protocols to ensure pilots and aircrews have the knowledge, training, and awareness necessary to safely complete their assigned mission.

The decision came after two E-64 Apache helicopters collided in the air Thursday in Alaska, killing three soldiers and injuring others.

Two soldiers were killed at the scene, while the third died while being transported to the hospital, according to a statement from the US Army's 11th Airborne Division.