A U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk crashed shortly after takeoff on Friday while conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea, the Navy's 7th Fleet said. All the sailors injured were in stable condition.
The Ronald Reagan Strike Group was performing routine operations off the Philippine coast around 9 a.m. when the helicopter made an emergency landing and crashed on the ship's flight deck, the service said.
“All injured personnel are in stable condition under evaluation by Ronald Reagan medical staff,” the Navy said in the statement obtained by Fox News. “While some personnel will be medically evacuated ashore, none of the injuries is life-threatening.”
A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan in the Philippine Sea early Friday, injuring several sailors. File Photo (US 7th Fleet)
Twelve personnel were injured during the crash, including four onboard the helicopter and eight on the flight deck, likely due to debris from the helicopter when it crashed into the flight deck with rotor blades spinning. None of the injuries were life-threatening, officials told Fox News. Their injuries ranged from minor cuts to broken bones.
Details on whether the helicopter or aircraft carrier sustained damage were not provided. The Navy said the ship remains fully mission capable and has resumed flight maneuvers.
US MILITARY CRASHES, COLLISIONS IN THE PACIFIC
The cause of the crash was under investigation.
This is the first known crash of a Navy helicopter in the Pacific since April last year, when a MH-60 crashed after takeoff from a destroyer near Guam.
Last year, two warships from 7th fleet were involved in separate collisions at sea killing 17 American sailors.
In August 2017, the USS John McCain collided with a merchant vessel near Singapore, killing 10 Navy sailors.
Two months earlier, seven American sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald struck a Philippines-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Japan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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