OCTOBER 28, 2025 – When an aircraft goes down, a specialized military group known as the Downed Aircraft Recovery Team, or DART, is called into action. These Soldiers are trained to recover crashed, damaged, or disabled aircraft, a critical mission that ensures sensitive equipment doesn’t fall into enemy hands and that the damaged aircraft can be repaired and returned to service.
The DART’s duties include assessing the aircraft’s condition, performing necessary repairs, and preparing it for evacuation. They determine whether the recovery will be conducted by air or ground transport. Once that is determined, the aircraft is then rigged for movement to a secure location.
According to Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Karoki, Aviation Unit Maintenance (AVUM) Company Observer Coach/Trainer (OC/T) with Falcon Team, Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), DART operations demand both technical expertise and adaptability.
“As an aviation maintenance OC, I have to not only be familiar with downed aircraft recovery team procedures, but any and all regulations that have to do with aircraft recovery,” said Karoki.
Training at JMRC provides Soldiers the opportunity to rehearse these high stakes missions in realistic scenarios. They are able to test those capabilities, allowing Soldiers to operate in multinational, combined-arms scenarios that replicate the challenges of modern warfare.
“This training does prepare you for real world scenarios because aircraft are going to go down during war,” Karoki explained. “Teams need to be prepared and not only proficient in recovery methods but also in their jobs, in case they have to perform repairs for the aircraft to self-recover.”
DART teams train extensively on a variety of specialized recovery equipment designed to handle aircraft ranging from small unmanned systems to large rotary-wing platforms. Their gear includes recovery vehicles, cranes, rigging systems, and aircraft-specific tools that allow them to safely assess damage and execute complex recovery missions under any conditions.
One of the greatest challenges during a DART mission is dealing with unanticipated situations. Soldiers are challenged to respond to unexpected scenarios that test their adaptability and problem-solving skills. Variables such as difficult terrain, limited visibility, or simulated combat conditions force teams to think critically and apply their training under pressure.
“The significant challenges you can face are situations that you can’t anticipate,” said Karoki. “However, these can be mitigated with proper training.”
By confronting and overcoming these challenges in a controlled environment, Soldiers build the confidence and competence needed to respond effectively when real world missions present the unknown.
Drawing from his own experience, Karoki recalled his first DART mission in 2010 while stationed in Korea. “We had a Chinook that went down after clipping some electrical wires,” said Karoki. “We flew into the crash site and helped the crew chiefs tear down the aircraft and get it ready for a U-mark lift which is sling loading that Chinook with another Chinook.”
Teamwork, Karoki emphasized, is essential to every successful DART mission. “Each and every team member has a specific role in the execution of the DART,” said Karoki. “Everybody needs to be familiar with their role and proficient in it to ensure seamless execution.”
Karoki also highlighted the broader importance of Army aviation within joint operations. “Service members should understand the importance that aviation as a whole play within the context of war,” said Karoki. “We are not only a maneuver element but also participate in casualty evacuation and the transport of troops and equipment. Aviation plays a critical role, and we need to ensure that we can communicate our capabilities to enhance mission objectives.”
As part of Combined Resolve, this training reinforces the Army’s commitment to building readiness among U.S. and allied forces. By honing their skills in aircraft recovery operations, Soldiers enhance their ability to respond effectively in complex environments and maintain the Army’s aviation capabilities in any theater. The rigorous, realistic training conducted at Hohenfels ensures that DART teams remain disciplined, proficient, and lethal, ready to preserve combat power and accomplish the mission whenever and wherever called upon.
Story by Staff Sgt. Dylan Bailey
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment