1 dead, 1 missing after US Navy helicopter crash

The wreckage of a US Military Air Force Pave Hawk helicopter, partially obscured in front of helicopter right, lies on the ground in Salthouse, England, Wednesday Jan. 8, 2014, after the helicopter crashed late Tuesday killing all four crew members aboard. A US Navy helicopter also crashed off the coast of Virginia on Wednesday, leaving one crew member dead and another missing, officials said. AP

WASHINGTON—A US Navy helicopter crashed off the coast of Virginia on Wednesday, leaving one crew member dead and another missing, officials said.

“One crew member has been confirmed dead following the crash this morning of a US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter in the Virginia Capes,” the Navy said in a statement.

Three more members of the crew were rescued and taken to a local hospital while a “search for the fifth crew member is continuing,” it said.

The condition of the rescued troops remained unclear.

The Sea Dragon went down off the coast of Norfolk at about 11:30 a.m. local time (1630 GMT) during routine training, officials said.

The incident comes a day after a US Air Force helicopter crashed in eastern Britain, leaving four service members dead.

In an odd coincidence of names, the HH-60G Pave Hawk chopper went down in the English county of Norfolk, while flying low on a training drill on Tuesday.