Navy says 5 sailors died in helicopter crash

The Navy announced Saturday that it is shifting its efforts to recovery after declaring five sailors dead in a helicopter crash.

“The U.S. Navy has declared the five missing crewmembers of an MH-60S helicopter crash, deceased. U.S. 3rd Fleet has shifted from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations, Sept. 4,” according to a Navy statement.

The helicopter crashed into the ocean near San Diego last Tuesday, with only one crew member rescued at the time.

The Navy conducted a search and rescue mission for more than 72 hours “encompassing 34 search and rescue flights, over 170 hours of flight time, with 5 search helicopters and constant surface vessel search,” the statement on Saturday said.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a tweet after the crash that the Coast Guard and Navy were involved in the search and rescue mission. 

Search and rescue operations are ongoing with multiple Coast Guard and Navy air and surface assets. More information will be posted as it becomes available. (2/2)

— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) September 1, 2021

The names of the sailors will not be released until 24 hours after the families are notified of the deaths.

The Navy said an investigation will continue into the crash, which happened during a routine flight. 

The helicopter that crashed was meant to support a group of four and carry out humanitarian missions, combat support, and search and rescue missions.

–Updated on Sept. 5 at 12:50 p.m.