Navy Recovers MH-60R Sea Hawk That Crashed Into San Diego Bay

January 15, 2024 10:53 PM
An MH-60R Sea Hawk, assigned to the ‘Spartans’ of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, lands for a parts transfer onboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61), Sep. 26, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Navy has recovered an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter that crashed into the San Diego Bay on Jan. 11, Naval Air Forces said in a statement.

All six crew members – two pilots and four aircrew — underwent medical evaluation and were released in good condition on Jan. 12, Cmdr. Beth Teach, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, said in the statement.

A mobile diving and salvage company with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 pulled the helicopter’s body from 15 feet of water at around noon Saturday, according to the statement. It took about 10 hours to retrieve the aircraft and offload it onto a pier at Naval Base Coronado.

Divers from the unit and the Navy did not observe any fuel leaks. Still, the Navy put a fuel containment boom around the crash site as a precaution, according to a Friday Navy statement.

The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash.

Heather Mongilio

Heather Mongilio

Heather Mongilio is a reporter with USNI News. She has a master’s degree in science journalism and has covered local courts, crime, health, military affairs and the Naval Academy.
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