5 US military killed in helicopter crash over Mediterranean Sea

Five American servicemen were killed in a military helicopter crash over the Mediterranean Sea.

This was reported by United States officials, AP reports.

The European Command of the US Armed Forces (EUCOM), based in Stuttgart, said that all five crew members on board were killed when the aircraft crashed "during a routine aerial refueling mission as part of a military exercise."

The department noted that out of respect for the families of the servicemen and in accordance with US Department of Defense policy, the names of the crew members were not disclosed for 24 hours until the families of the victims were notified.

"We are mourning the tragic loss of five U.S. service members in a crash in the Mediterranean early Saturday morning," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

The military first announced the crash on Saturday and said the cause was under investigation but there was no indication of hostile activity. On Sunday, they said that search and rescue efforts began immediately, including with the participation of US military aircraft and ships in the vicinity.

It was not immediately clear which aircraft was involved. The Air Force sent additional squadrons to the region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, which carries a number of aircraft, is also operating in the eastern Mediterranean.

Author - Olena Madiak, 13/11/2023