WASHINGTON: A US Navy helicopter crashed off the coast of Virginia on Wednesday, leaving two crew members dead and another missing, officials said.
Two more members of the crew were rescued and taken to a hospital near the crash in the Virginia Capes.
One was listed in serious condition, while the other has now been upgraded to fair condition.
The search for a fifth crew member is “continuing,” Naval Air Forces Atlantic said in a statement.
The US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon went down off the coast of Norfolk around 11:30 am (1630 GMT) during routine training, according to officials.
The crew, part of the Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen (HM-14) based at Norfolk Naval Station Chambers Field, were flying on a routine mine countermeasure training exercise when the accident took place.
Other Navy helicopters and vessels are assisting a US Coast Guard patrol boat in the search and rescue for the missing crew member.
Virginia Beach Fire Department boats have found the aircraft fuselage and tail section using their side-scan radar.
Officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
The incident came a day after a US Air Force helicopter crashed in eastern Britain, leaving four service members dead.
In an odd coincidence of names, the HH-60G Pave Hawk chopper went down in the English county of Norfolk, while flying low on a training drill on Tuesday.