PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to continue its search through the night for a missing Navy crewmember after an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter crashed with five people aboard Wednesday approximately 18 miles east of Cape Henry, Va.
The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater approximately 20 miles east of Cape Henry, Va., searching for a Navy crewmember following an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter crashed, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014,. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Fireman Samantha May
A Navy aircrew contacted Coast Guard 5th District Command Center watchstanders at approximately 11 a.m. reporting the Sea Dragon crashed and another Navy aircrew dropped a life raft to the people in the water.
Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and dispatched crews aboard a 25-foot Response Boat – Small and a 45-foot Response Boat – Medium from Coast Guard Station Little Creek and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Portsmouth to assist.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., two Navy helicopter crews hoisted four people from the water and took them to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
The RB-S and RB-M crews have completed their search for the night. However, the crew aboard the Shearwater along with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., are scheduled to continue searching.
For more pictures from the search click the photo.
