SEN. DENEEN ON FORT
CAMPBELL HELICOPTER CRASH
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 13, 2025) — The following is a statement from Sen. Matt Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, regarding the June 11 helicopter crash at Fort Campbell that claimed the life of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright, pilot for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and injured another.
“The news from Fort Campbell Wednesday night is heartbreaking. One of our nation’s soldiers, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright, lost his life, and others were injured following this tragic helicopter incident. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection, I join all Kentuckians in grieving with the Wright family, the Fort Campbell community, and the broader Army family.
“Wright is mourned not just by Kentucky, but by a grateful nation, one that owes its liberty to the courage and sacrifice of service members like him. We pray for the injured and for the strength of every loved one carrying the weight of this loss.
“This tragedy reminds us that the dangers our military faces are not confined to distant war zones. The call to serve carries risks even in training, preparation, and daily duty here at home.
“To every soldier at Fort Campbell and across our armed forces, know that Kentucky sees your sacrifice, honors your service, and stands firmly with you. Today, we remember and honor one of our own.”
Fort Campbell, located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, is home to the 101st Airborne Division and is vital to the nation's military readiness.
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Sen. Matt Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, represents the 10th Senate District, which includes Hardin County and a portion of Jefferson County. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection, and serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Agriculture; Families and Children; and Judiciary. Deneen is a member of the Housing Task Force. He also serves as co-chair of the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee, a statutory body responsible for monitoring Kentucky’s education accountability system.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Deneen, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate110.jpg