U.S. officials said Sunday that five U.S. servicepeople were killed when a military helicopter crashed over the eastern Mediterranean Sea during a training mission. All five crew members on board were killed when the aircraft went down “during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training,” according to the military’s European Command. It wasn’t immediately clear which military service the aircraft belonged to.
The military said that the cause is under investigation, but there are no indications of any hostile activity involved. It said on Sunday that “search and rescue efforts began immediately, including nearby U.S. military aircraft and ships.” European Command said that out of respect for the families of the service members and in line with Department of Defense policy, the identities of the crew members are being withheld for 24 hours until the families of those killed have been notified.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement: “we mourn the tragic loss of five U.S. service members during a training accident in the Mediterranean Sea early Saturday morning. While we continue to gather more information about this deadly crash, it is another stark reminder that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe.”
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