The US Army has ordered a safety stand down of all Army aviators, except those involved in critical missions, to complete required training following two recent helicopter crashes that left 12 soldiers dead. This move grounds all army aviators except those participating in critical missions until they complete the required training. The safety stand down comes after a mid-air collision between two AH-64 Apache helicopters near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, that killed three soldiers and wounded another. Two of the soldiers died at the scene and the third died while being transported to a hospital. "The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand-down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel," said Gen James McConville. The crash is the second involving military helicopters in Alaska this year. The Army pilots will now focus on safety and training protocols to give crews the knowledge, training, and awareness to finish their missions safely.