A US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter crashed into San Diego Bay off the coast of Coronado Thursday evening, according to reports.
The MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike squadron entered the water while conducting training around 6:40 p.m., said Navy Cmdr. Beth Teach.
A safety boat was on location and, with aid from Federal Fire Department San Diego, all six crew members were pulled from the water and taken to shore. The crew members survived and were undergoing medical evaluation, Teach said.
The helicopter had been stationed at Naval Air Station North Island. Another chopper from the US Coast Guard was sent out to help at the scene, Coast Guard Petty Officer Adam Stanton said.
Built by American aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter is a twin-engine, multi-mission, all-weather naval utility helicopter based on the Army’s UH-60 BlackHawk.
The helicopter is used for a variety of roles which include anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations.
The helicopter is claimed to be the most advanced maritime chopper on the face of the planet. It can be deployed on any air-capable vessel, be it frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers, cruisers, fast combat ships, amphibious assault ships, or the navy’s new littoral combat ships.
Moreover, the offensive capabilities of the helicopter are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and Hellfire missiles. All Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) squadrons that receive the Romeo are redesignated Helicopter, Strike Maritime (HSM) squadrons.
By ET Desk
