Navy Helicopter Crashes, No Fatalities, a Day After 5 Marines Died in Aircraft Crash in Same Region

MV22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)

A Navy helicopter crashed in the rural Southern California desert Thursday evening with no fatalities, just a day after a Marine Osprey aircraft went down in the same region, killing all five onboard.

“This evening at approximately 6 p.m., an MH-60S Seahawk crashed near El Centro, Calif. while conducting a routine training flight from Naval Air Facility El Centro,” said the U.S. Navy in a press release. “All four of the air crew on board survived the crash and have been safely recovered. One of the aircrew has suffered non-life threatening injuries and has been transported to a local hospital.”

The MH-60S Seahawk helicopter—mainly used for combat assistance, anti-surface warfare, and disaster relief—was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3, based at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, California. Details of the crash have not been revealed.

The incident was the third military aircraft crash in Southern California in less than a week. Identities of crew members have not yet been released.

Five Marines were killed when a tiltrotor military aircraft went down near the desert town of Glamis on Wednesday, also in Imperial County. Investigations into both crashes are underway.

“Five Marines with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), have been confirmed deceased following an aviation mishap involving an MV-22B Osprey during a training mission near Glamis, CA on the afternoon of June 8, 2022,” a June 9 press release from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing states.

Glamis is located about 115 miles east of San Diego and about 50 miles from Yuma, Arizona.

Maj. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, commanding general of 3rd MAW issued the following statement: “We mourn the loss of our Marines in this tragic mishap. Our hearts go out to their families and friends as they cope with this tragedy.”

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey has the combined capabilities of a conventional helicopter and a high-speed turboprop aircraft. It can take off and land vertically as well as manage short takeoffs and landings. The aircraft has its share of critics with some claiming that it is unsafe.

On March 18, a Marine Corps Osprey crashed near a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle killing four Marines. In 2017, an MV-22 Osprey crashed off Queensland, Australia, killing three Marines, and in 2015, one Marine was killed and 21 injured when their Osprey caught fire during a difficult landing in Hawaii.

Earlier this month, U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Richard Bullock was killed when his aircraft crashed near Trona, California, on June 3. Bullock was flying in a F/A-18E Super Hornet on a routine training flight when the craft went down suddenly around 2:30 p.m.

The incident happened in a remote, unpopulated area and no civilians were harmed, according to authorities. Bullock was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California.