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Subscribe to RSSSeven Marines died when their helicopters collided in midair Wednesday night around the Arizona-California border. There were no survivors. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Seven Marines died when their helicopters collided in midair Wednesday night around the Arizona-California border, defense officials told NBC News, after a number of recent training fatalities. There were no survivors.
The Marines, six stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and one in Yuma, Ariz., were conducting a routine training exercise at about 8 p.m. local time when their AH-1W "Cobra" and UH-1Y "Huey" helicopters collided, Marine officials said.
The crash occurred about two miles west of the Yuma Training Range Complex on federal land, Maj. Carl Redding, director of public affairs, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, wrote on his twitter account. The cause of the incident was under investigation.
"We fly every single day for the most part and, you know, relatively mishap free so it’s ... one of those rare and unfortunate occurrences that took place last night," said Cpl. Steven Posey of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Miramar in Southern California.
Two Marines were on one of the helicopters, while five were on the other, Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger told KYMA-TV. The helicopters were based out of Camp Pendleton.
The identities of the Marines killed have not been released pending formal notification of next of kin.
The incident comes after a number of training fatalities in recent years. Last September, two Marines died when their AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter went down in Camp Pendleton, according to the Marine Corps Times. And in July, a Marine sergeant was killed in the crash of a UH-1Y Huey helicopter, also at Camp Pendleton, while five others onboard were injured, the Marine Corps Times reported.
Msnbc.com's Miranda Leitsinger contributed to this story.
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Jumping from those egg beaters was at the least fun, it was how we got from point A to point B, when will they adopt an intake that is sand resistant. Semper fi bros.
Rest in Peace
The story broke my heart when I heard of the news. RIP my brother in arms. Thank you for your service and may God give your family, loved ones peace and rest in this day of sorrow. For those who do not understand tranning is not easy nor often safe and yes, sometimes it happens rather its in the air or a simple farmer cutting down hay. Many things can happen rather its the machine or error the simple fact is we lost 7 brothers whom loved and gave to her country.
Little late to thank them now, isn't it?
Nice sentiment Nancy! it's never too late.
bigjj you are a freaking deuche bag!!!! Now is not the time or place to be fighting about who is doing what !! You talk about how the Marines havent been doing anything and only die in training. You should shut the hell up!! you are probably some freakin pencil pusher who only wishes he had the nuts to join the Marines in the first place!! Its funny how your so quick to judge the Marines but were the ones always saving your sorry a@@.
Rest in peace Marines Semper Fi
WHEN is the Navy going to learn that GRUNTS aren't smart enough to fly anything other than a paper airplane! I spent four (4) years jumping out of helos in HS-1 and then HS-3 both at NAS JAX. We only gave our worn out junk planes to the GRUNTS though I'm sure that hasn't been the case since Desert SCAM I. In every training excercise that I was involved in the GRUNT pilots fixed or rotary WERE THE WORST! I can't tell you how MANY times I'd have to jump into the freezing, dangerous North Atlantic to pull there pathetic asses out! STAY ON THE GROUND GRUNTS THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG!
Rush...stop faking. You were never in the Navy. No military, past or present, would respond to the death of anyone else serving (in any branch) the way you have.
TRAGIC, TRAGIC, TRAGIC!!! weather these men and women are in war fighting or training to go to war, any military person is putting their life on the line to for all of us and we all need to remember the sacrifices the make for us. This is sad and these people and their families deserve our mourning. I live near the Navy's Top Gun Base in Nevada so I get to watch the pilots fly practice missions and they are amazing. To the men and women who serve, fight, get injured, and die for me... THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!
Semper Fi brothers may you rest in peace.
BigJJ still lives with his mother
First, condolences to all involved, and Semper Fi. Second...collided "around the.. border"? High school English would teach you it was "near" the border...
Semper Fi to my Marine Corps brothers and sisters. May God grant their families peace and comfort to move forward. Any loss is tragic, but they died doing what they wanted to do for our country. Live training to keep their skills sharp for the real thing. We know that some day we will see them again because as our hymn so boldly states... The streets of heaven a guarded by United States Marines!
May the Father be with you always. Semper Fi
Hey Big BJ why dont you really enlist in the military and do a couple of tours and then you can talk @!$%#. I have 6 tours in the gulf and Afhganistan theaters and have taken shrapnel from a training accident back in 1987 work up aboard ship when a 46 crashed on the USS Pelelu, I am sure you were still in your diapers at that time I guess you little puke. I will show you my military record on my DD214 post yours on the web and lets see who you really are you little punk.
Rest In Peace Marines. A sad day for America and the USMC. May God watch over the families, friends, and Brother and Sister Marines of these Fallen Warriors.
As for BigJJStud - you are a poor excuse for a soldier and a human being. Pathetic POS!
RIP warrior bretheren!!!!! May God recieve you well....
I don't mean to be unfeeling (and I'm not I feel for the families what a terrible loss) with that said,
Isn't it kind of hard to miss seeing another helocopter that's near you? I mean in a helocopter you have glass all around you, no?
I'm not being sarcastic - I really would like to know. Cloud effect?
It was night, and before you mention it, sure they had night vision goggles, but the field of view is limited, meaning there is essentially no peripheral vision. There are many blind spots surrounding a helicopter, and this is particularly true in a two place Cobra. To make matters worse, when in combat or training for combat you don't fly around with all the lights on. "Train like you fight".
Right on Mike
Semper Fi
This had nothing to do with RELIGION! The Koran follows the words/works of Jesus Christ (as taught by Mohammed), the New Testament follows the words/works of Jesus Christ (as taught by the apostles and Paul) and the Torah follows the words/works of Jewish law (as taught by David and Moses) In case you didn't know, Jesus Christ was a JEW! So when you burn a Koran, you are burning the New Testament and the Torah. The burning of the Koran had nothing to do with RELIGION--it was the work of angry men which in turn had angry men respond!
Rest in peace . I am a war zone vet myself and am proud of all our guy`s . P.S. to all U.S.S. BRISCO plank owners nobody does it better
I mourn the loss of my brothers. I hurt for their families. Semper Fi. Your sacrifice and dedication will not be forgotten. RIP.
little jj stud probably couldn't cut it in the Corps! Come on guys, we are all on the same team out there. RIP Devil Dogs.
I'd Like to know who was in charge of the Air traffic control on this one ? Wouldn't they have seen that before it happened on radar ?
Air traffic control? This wasn't a civilian pleasure flight. It was a training excersize.
The problem is that when your flying a helicopter you really can't see in all directions. Above and behind and also below and towards the back the view is nearly zero.
Proximity sensors are used for this reason.
There are many scenario's with different angles of approach which can easily result in a mid air collision.
The same is true for airplanes where the view is limited to only certain directions.
Proximity sensors would be and are great for everyday use, but it's not wise to fly around the battlefield with electronic emitters announcing your presence.
Yes it's better to just crash and let the pieces fall to the ground.
Nancy things happen real fast with multiple aircraft in close proximity to each other, epsecially in low light conditions
Very sad ,Rest in Peace. Being in the military is a risky job. war time and peace time. that is why iI am so proud of the men serving .