6 Helicopter Crew Members Rescued After Crash In San Diego Bay

SAN DIEGO, CA — Military officials are investigating a Navy helicopter crash Friday in San Diego Bay. Six crew members traveling in the helicopter survived and were rescued.

The helicopter plummeted in the bay shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday near Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Beth Teach told reporters.

Authorities said the crew members were inside an MH-60R helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 when it entered the water around 6:40 p.m., according to KGTV.

Members of the Federal Fire Department San Diego rescued the downed crew members and took them to safety, Teach told the San Diego-Union Tribune.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was sent out to help at the scene, Coast Guard Petty Officer Adam Stanton told The Union Tribune.

The helicopter squadron, according to a release from a Navy official, is a Fleet Replacement Squadron that trains new naval aviators to fly and fight the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter.

"Due to the nature of the training, a safety boat was on location and, with the assistance of Federal Fire, all six crew members survived and were promptly moved ashore," a Navy statement said.

The crash is under investigation, KGTV reported.

— City News Service