Four U.S. Army soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash during a training mission in Washington State on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2025. Among the deceased was Andrew Kraus, son of Mission BBQ co-founder Bill Kraus. Maryland Governor Wes Moore shared his condolences on X (formerly Twitter) stating, "Dawn and I are heartbroken to hear that Andrew Kraus, the son of Mission BBQ co-founder Bill Kraus, died alongside three other service members during a flight training." The exact time and location of the crash within Washington State were not immediately specified. The incident was confirmed by Governor Wes Moore in a statement on X, who also noted the state's mourning alongside the Kraus family, highlighting Mission BBQ's roots in Maryland and its values of service and community. Franklin Graham had previously announced the deaths on X, expressing sympathy for the Kraus family and the other service members' loved ones. No further details regarding the specific training mission or the circumstances of the crash have been released by official channels as of the reporting window's end.
