3 Marines Die in Helicopter Crash
NewsMax.com Wires
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
SNEADS FERRY, N.C., -- A Marine Corps helicopter crashed into the New River near a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, killing three Marines and injuring two others, reports said Tuesday.
By dawn Tuesday a rescue team had recovered one body from the river and was searching for others.
The pilot and co-pilot of the CH-46 Sea Knight, which crashed near Camp Lejeune base at 11 p.m. Monday, were taken to hospitals where they were listed in stable condition.
The helicopter was on a training exercise for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit when it crashed, a base spokesman said. The rescue team recognized the craft from its tail as most of the wreckage was submerged, he said.
The spokesman declined to release the names of the victims pending notification of relatives.
CH-46 helicopters, used mainly for troop transport, have had several accidents in the past. Seven Marines were killed in a similar crash near San Diego in December 1999 and 14 were killed in May 1996 when two Marine helicopters collided at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Copyright 2001 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
