Search continues in military copter crash off Florida
Updated: 2015-03-12 09:06
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
"Our complete attention is on locating our fellow Marines," the statement said.
The four crew members and the helicopter were part of the Louisiana National Guard, assigned to an Army unit based in Hammond, Louisiana. All four were married men with children, Curtis said.
They were part of a highly experienced helicopter battalion, Curtis said, noting the two pilots were instructors and had "several thousand hours" of flying experience with their crew.
President Barack Obama phoned military officials to express condolences, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, noting the president anticipated a detailed investigation.
The helicopter that crashed had a flight data recorder that will be part of the investigation, a Louisiana guard official said.
The incident occurred near an Air Force base spanning nearly 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares) in the Florida Panhandle that is used extensively for training.
General Martin Dempsey, the top US military officer, told a US Senate hearing that the "loss of the folks on that helicopter" served as "a reminder to us that those who serve put themselves at risk both in training and in combat."
In February 2012, seven Marines were killed when two helicopters collided during a nighttime training exercise along the California-Arizona border.
The following year, another seven Marines died in an explosion at a Nevada munitions depot after a mortar round detonated prematurely during a live-fire training exercise.
Related Stories
IOC mourns the death of French athletes in helicopter crash 2015-03-11 11:28
France mourns sports stars killed in Argentina helicopter crash 2015-03-11 09:55
Fiscal woes, debt overhang but no crash 2015-03-08 15:33
Harrison Ford crash-lands on golf course 2015-03-07 07:55
72 passengers settle claims in fatal 2013 Asiana crash 2015-03-05 07:40
Today's Top News
Italian court upholds Berlusconi's acquittal
UK companies seek new opportunities in China
CNR, CSR merger passes overseas antitrust scrutiny
Official urges Dalai Lama to forsake evil ways
China approves new nuclear power project since 2011
China February inflation quickens to 1.4%
Apple unveiled first wearable watch
French Olympians among dead in Argentina crash
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |
Conca set to return to China |
CES: Spotlight on Chinese gadgets |
Yearender: What happened around the globe in 2014 |