US Navy declares five sailors went missing in helicopter crash in Pacific dead

In a statement on Saturday, the fleet said it had “shifted from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations” after the MH-60S helicopter crashed into the Pacific on August 31.

The move comes after more than 72 hours of rescue efforts involving 34 search-and-rescue flights and at least 170 hours of flight time involving five search helicopters and constant surface vessel search, the statement read.

The helicopter took off from the USS Abraham Lincoln and crashed into the ocean on Tuesday afternoon while “conducting routine flight operations approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego”, the fleet said.

“As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Navy policy, the identities of the Sailors will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.”

The U.S. Navy has declared the five missing crew members of this week's MH-60S helicopter crash in the Pacific deceased, and shifted from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations today. (1/2)

— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) September 4, 2021