11 Dead In Military Helicopter Crash Near Navarre

March 11, 2015

Eleven service members are dead following a military helicopter crash in the Panhandle.

UH-60 Black Hawk from the Army National Guard crashed during a routine training mission on or near a remote area of beach near Navarre. The helicopter had seven Marines and four soldiers aboard. The copter was based at Camp Lejeune and the soldiers were from a National Guard unit based in Hammond, LA.

“Our thoughts & prayers are with them and their families as the search and rescue operation continues,” Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said in a Tweet.

Two National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were participating in a training exercise overnight, Eglin spokesman Andy Bourland said in a news release.

One of the helicopters, with four aircrew members and seven Marines aboard, was involved in an accident near Eglin range site A-17, east of the Navarre Bridge, Bourland said. The helicopter was reported missing at about 8:30 p.m. last night, and a search and rescue team found debris at about 2 a.m. today, he added.

Recovery efforts are underway at the accident site, and sonar has located the wreckage in the water. The second helicopter returned to Eglin, and all Marines and soldiers aboard were accounted for.

Names of the soldiers and Marines are being withheld pending notification of their families, and the accident is under investigation, Bourland said.

More details will be posted as they become available.

Comments

15 Responses to “11 Dead In Military Helicopter Crash Near Navarre”

  1. heavy heart on March 12th, 2015 12:20 pm

    My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved. May God give them peace through this terrible time in their lives. I pray that the families receive closure. So very proud of our service men and women.

  2. Louise on March 12th, 2015 8:51 am

    Dear Lord please hold these heroes and their friends and families in Your loving hands and comfort them.

    Thank you to all military personnel, both past and present, for daily risking your lives to ensure we are free. God bless you all.

  3. haley on March 12th, 2015 7:25 am

    My prayers go out to these marines and soldiers and their families. This is so sad. I am so very sorry for all.

  4. Gman on March 12th, 2015 4:50 am

    Semper Fi Heros

  5. Dano on March 11th, 2015 8:01 pm

    Awww. I’m so sorry for the families of those involved. Prayers for all.

  6. A Navy brat on March 11th, 2015 5:10 pm

    The sympathy shown to the family and the community in these responses is heart-warming, given the news of late. Heartfelt sympathy to the friends and family of those impacted by this accident. May God give you all comfort in this time of grief.

  7. Anastasia on March 11th, 2015 12:30 pm

    Prayers go out to all family and friends affected by this tragedy.

    Having a son in the military hits home to me that at any time he could be taken which scares me to no end.

    Thanks to all service people out there putting their lives at risk to protect us.

  8. Jr on March 11th, 2015 11:31 am

    Prayers for the fallen Warriors and their Families.

  9. Nikki on March 11th, 2015 11:12 am

    Prayers for all!
    Special thanks to all of you putting your life on the line.
    Nikki

  10. Audrey on March 11th, 2015 10:49 am

    @Wharf rat
    You said it all in one sentence.

  11. Audrey on March 11th, 2015 10:46 am

    My heart goes out to these families. I have a 21 year old son in the Navy (I know that no sailors were involved in this accident) and I can only imagine what these families are going through. May God be with you all.

  12. Jaleen on March 11th, 2015 9:57 am

    Lord, I pray for these families. Please hold them close to You during this difficult time.

  13. Wharf rat on March 11th, 2015 9:55 am

    “All gave some….some gave all.”

  14. Praying on March 11th, 2015 8:07 am

    I hope and pray they are alright.

  15. Kathy Ellis on March 11th, 2015 8:06 am

    Will lift up in prayer the families of these American heroes.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News