Two Dead, One Missing After Navy Helicopter Crashes Off Virginia Coast – Update 2

U.S. Navy file photo of a MH-53E Sea Dragon.

UPDATE 2: The U.S. Navy has now confirmed two fatalities from today’s crash and the search continues for 1 still missing.

UPDATE: The U.S. Navy has one fatality from this morning’s MH-53E crash off coast of Norfolk, VA. A search continues for 1 still missing.

EARLIER: The U.S. Navy has confirmed that a search and rescue is underway off Norfolk, Virginia after a Navy helicopter made an emergency landing during a routine training mission.

The Navy reported that four of five personnel onboard have been rescued and search is underway for the fifth missing person.

The U.S. Coast Guard said that it received a call at approximately 11 a.m. EST reporting a Sea Dragon crashed 20 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia and another Navy aircrew dropped a life raft to the people in the water. The statement added that at approximately 11:45 a.m., two Navy aircrews hoisted four people from the water and took them to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

The search is being conducted by the Coast Guard cutter Shearwater and two MH-60S helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron Twenty Eight (HSC-28), the Navy reports.

The helicopter is assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen (HM-14) based at Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field.

Today’s incident follows a crash late Tuesday involving a U.S. Air Force helicopter that went down during a training exercise in eastern England, killing four people.

MH-53E Specifications

Fuselage Length: 73 feet, 4 inches
Overall Length: 99 feet
Height: 28 feet, 4 inches
Max Gross Weight: 69,750 pounds
Speed: 172 miles/hour (150 knots)
Ceiling: 10,000 feet (without supplemental oxygen)
Range: 1,289 statute miles (1,120 nautical miles)
Power Plant: 3 General Electric T64-GD-419 turboshaft (4,750 SHP each)
Crew: 2 pilots, 1-6 aircrew men, depending on mission
Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft