Three national guard members were killed when their helicopter crashed in New York.

According to Forces.net, the UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter crashed in a farmer's field in Mendon, a rural town south of Rochester, at 18:30 local time (23:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

The circumstances are on the investigation and the Federal Administrative agency has said it would take part.

The helicopter flew out of the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport and was assigned to C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion.

The guards were on a training flight.

Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York said in a statement, "National Guard members are our citizen-soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect both here and abroad, and I extend prayers and condolences from all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones, and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes."

He also announced that the flags on the state buildings will be flown at half-mast on Thursday as a tribute to those who lost lives in the crash.