Navy helicopter with five aboard crashes off San Diego coast

Source: Associated Press

Associated Press
Posted: 05/20/2009 05:39:26 AM PDT
Updated: 05/20/2009 05:39:45 AM PDT

SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard boats and aircraft scanned Pacific Ocean waters today for a Navy helicopter with five people aboard that crashed into the ocean about 13 miles south of San Diego, authorities said.

Operating off the coast of California, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz got word that the SH60 Seahawk helicopter went down during a training exercise at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Lt. Candice Tresch, a Navy spokeswoman in Washington.

A Navy helicopter, three boats and a helicopter from the Coast Guard and boats from the San Diego Harbor police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were searching an area near the Coronado Islands off the northwest coast of Mexico for survivors, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Henry Dunphy.

Dunphy said the Navy reported the crash shortly before midnight and sought help in the search for five survivors.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12410261

Fingers and toes crossed for the crew.