Posted on 01/25/2005 7:58:17 PM PST by crushelits
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - A Navy helicopter based on an aircraft carrier crashed into the Atlantic Tuesday afternoon. All eight people aboard were rescued from a life raft.
The helicopter from the USS Eisenhower crashed about 30 miles off Naval Air Station Oceana, according to Lt. Mark Jones, assistant public affairs officer for Commander Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
The MH-53E Sea Dragon, primarily used for minesweeping, was part of a helicopter squadron from the Norfolk Naval Station and was doing exercises with the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship.
The eight crew members took refuge on a life raft and were transported by two Navy helicopters to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Their conditions are not immediately known.
The Navy plans to investigate the crash, the cause of which was unknown.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.netscape.cnn.com ...
man thats good news, You read crash and think the worst right away. I wonder if the chopper had flotation devices to delay it sinking, that was something new they were installing not too long ago.
Description: The MH-53E is used primarily for Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with a secondary mission of shipboard delivery.
Background: The MH-53E was derived from the CH-53E Super Stallion and is heavier and has a greater fuel capacity than its ancestor. The MH-53s can operate from carriers and other warships. Sea Dragon is capable of carrying up to 55 troops or a 16-ton payload 50 nautical miles or a 10-ton payload 500 nautical miles. The MH-53E is capable of towing a variety of mine-sweeping countermeasures systems, including the Mk 105 minesweeping sled, the AQS-14 side-scan sonar, and the Mk 103 mechanical minesweeping system.
Point of Contact:
Navy:
Commander
Naval Air Systems Command Office of Public Affairs
47122 Liljencrantz Road
Patuxent River, MD 20670-5440
(301)342-7512
Finally, some good news.
Hope they're all ok.
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