Marine dead, 3 hurt in Hawaii helo crash - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Marine dead, 3 hurt in Hawaii helo crash

One Marine died and three others were injured after a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter crashed off Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on Tuesday night, the Corps announced Wednesday.

The Marine, whose name officials had not yet released, was a crewmember aboard the helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Corps Base Hawaii officials said in a news release.

The Marine was pronounced dead at Tripler Army Medical Center. Three crewmembers were taken to Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, where two were in critical condition and the third was in stable condition. Updates on their conditions were not available as of mid-day Wednesday, according to Maj. Alan Crouch, a base spokesman.

The helicopter was making an emergency landing about 7:20 p.m. about two miles off the coast of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay when the crash happened. The Marine Corps is investigating its cause.

A helicopter with HMH-363 joined rescue teams from the base’s waterfront operations, the Honolulu fire department, and Coast Guard and Army aircraft in responding to the crash, officials said. The helicopter remained on its side in a shallow part of the bay and is expected to be recovered in a salvage operation.