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Two US pilots died in Albania early this morning after their Apache
helicopter crashed during a nighttime training mission. The two servicemen
are NATO's first fatalities since the Alliance began its military campaign
against Yugoslavia six weeks ago.
The US military identified the pilots as Chief Warrant Officer 3 David
A. Gibbs, 38, of Ohio, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin L. Reichert,
28, of Wisconsin. No official explanation has been given as to the cause
of the accident, but NATO spokesman Jamie Shea did confirm that there
was "no indication of any hostile activity."
President Clinton, who arrived in Europe today to meet with NATO leaders
and review US troops, called the pilots "brave Americans"
and said "we grieve with their families and pray for them."
 This
was the second training accident involving the Apache helicopters deployed
to the Balkans. On April 26, two US crewmen were slightly injured when
their helicopter crashed in a training exercise outside of Tirana, the
Albanian capital.
At today's Pentagon briefing, Major General Charles Wald said that
the accidents will not "alter any plans that were made previously"
for the Apache helicopters..
 NATO
Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark requested the deployment
of Apache helicopters to help go after Serbian armored units in Kosovo.
Capable of flying at low altitudes through rough terrain, the AH-64
Apache was designed to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles. During
the Gulf War, Apaches were credited with over 500 Iraqi tank kills while
losing only one helicopter.
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