7 Marines Killed in Midair Helicopter Crash in Calif. Desert
- Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:25am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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UH-1Y "Huey" (Image source: KNXV-TV)
Seven Marines were killed Wednesday night when two military helicopters collided in midair during routine training in a California desert mountain area, the Associated Press reported.
The crash happened in a remote portion of the Yuma Training Range Complex near the Arizona-California border. The Marines were conducting night training exercises when their UH-1Y “Huey” and AH-1W “Cobra” aircraft collided in midair around 8 p.m. local time. There were no survivors.
Lt. Maureen Dooley with the Miramar Air Base in California told the AP the Marines were based at Camp Pendleton near San Diego.
AH-1W "Cobra" (Image source: KNXV-TV)
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The names of those killed have not been released pending notification of their families.
According to CNN, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma has about 4,000 active-duty Marines and sailors and is responsible for 80 percent of Marine Corps air-to-ground aviation training.
Initial reports differed over the exact location of the crash and even in which state it took place; according to the AP, the U.S. Marine Corps confirmed the collision happened on the California side of the Chocolate Mountains in a desert area similar to ground conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dooley said the Marines were training for Afghanistan, local ABC affiliate KNXV-TV reported.
This is a breaking news story. Updates will be added as they become available.
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chazmo
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:09pmTHis is VERY close to were I live. They have been “training” for weeks now. We even have huge convoys going from El Centro Naval Air Station to the chocolate mountains. Military Copters have been flying low in the town I live. Very strange. Also, this training reminds me of just before the Afghan invasion and the Iraq invasion. Something is up for sure. God Bless you marines. My God cradle you in his love.
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:11pmoh and look at a Map for the Glamis Sand Dunes.. Just north of that area is were they like to train in.
Report Post »marinewife1466
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:24pmNothing is “up” its a base that marines go to to train on their helicopters before they deploy. Just like 29 palms has an “iraq” that every marine goes to to train for deployment as well
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:51pmTo practice a Deadly Art… requires Risk… and 5% casualties are the general line of acceptable!
Report Post »ShawnB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:25pmRIP Marines
Report Post »marinewife1466
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:11pmRIP MARINES!!!!!
Report Post »My husband is a crew cheif on the huey as well, (was at pendleton a year or so ago) and he is currently on a flight when i heard the news about this. Breaks my heart to wonder if this flight is going to be a devestating one and to top it off, he is heading off to Yuma in 2 weeks to do his training on the huey as well. Accidents happen all the time, in cars, planes, helicopters, work, everywhere, its just a shame that it has to be people who are protecting our country. My heart and prayers go out to their families
christos
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:05pm…The 7 Marines are in Heaven with +JESUS+GOD+ now surely they will be in the Army +JESUS+ is assembling in Heaven they will get their immortal bodies,,,never leave home without your “Spiritual Armour” brave Marines Bless their Hearts…— Vengeance is the +LORDS+ saith the +LORD+ JESUS+ knows exactly what happens before it happens.TA
Report Post »ReddenBlack
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 3:30pmSooooo… since those idiots crashed two helicopters, that I paid for with my tax dollars, I assume we will be sending a bill to their families??
We should, How dare they be so careless as to destroy millions of tax dollars worth of aircraft. You don’t get to waste that money in this country with no consequences.
You know what you call 7 dead marines? A good start….
chazde3
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:33pmTrust me Marinewife, if he has to say things like that he has to already lead a miserable life. To have no care or compassion for other humans, especially those serving in the armed forces is pathetic. Marinewife, please thank your husband for his service for me. I am grateful for all members of our military that protect our freedoms daily.
Report Post »navydoc2008
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:37pmYour share of those two helicopters I am sure is less than $100 which if you send me your address i would gladly be willing to reimburse you in person.
Report Post »wmoau
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:14pmPlease since these marines died and they are so stupid i would love your address so i could “reimburse” you.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:23pmRed has huge nuggets to be sniping like that from his keyboard….really didn‘t even deserve the effort I put into reading the post or the reply I’m sending. One of obama‘s own I’m quite sure…
Report Post »marinewife1466
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:22pmThank you chazde3, what these MORONS dont comprehend, that just like a car, has mechanical issues, my husband went on his flight today in a HUEY and of course there was a mechanical problem and had to turn around to land…its nothing our marines are doing wrong, its just the mechanical end of it, which my husbands bird could have gone down today too. just like a car, but people are too ignorant now days. My husband actually knew one of the marines who died, so i hope this man burns in hell for his comment. I am proud of my husband risking his life, and my 2 sons and i sacrificing losing him over ungrateful people. So to people like you chazde3 THANK YOU!_
Report Post »Redenblackusux
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 3:37amI made this account especially for you reddenblack. The only person that would spew this kind of rhetoric is an uneducated, unemployed, thirty three year old, lonely man that probably still lives with his mom and fantasizes to Call of Duty because you don’t have the balls to fight for anything in your life. Tell me…what exactly have you accomplished in your life where you think you are entitled to say that seven dead people, not just marines, is a good start to anything? I know I threw a lot of big words out there, but don‘t worry it’s a rhetorical question since we know your answer in NOTHING. I feel sorry for you. It must not be easy for you to get wifi from your “occupy” tent.
Sincerely,
A friend of those dead marines
Report Post »nysteve
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 3:27pmJust breaks my heart knowing personally the commitment these Marines have. They train extremely hard to keep us safe. THANK YOU and God bless all of you and your families. SEMPER FI.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:19pmThis news knocked the wind out of me. God, please give comfort to these Marines’ families & friends. Rest in peace, sons.
Report Post »AverageDude
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:04amToo many “accidents” now a day. Starting to wonder if Barack Osama is trying to eliminate all of the nations defenses so the nation he really supports can take over…
Anyways
Report Post »Rest In Peace soldiers and may God be with you and your families.
MEANS2RESIST
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:45am12/5 Marines…RIP
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:15pmH&MS 13/36 84-88 Rest in peace Brothers
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:33pmMALS-39 05/10 RIP Brothers.
It is sad to say, but these types of accidents happen nearly every year in military aviation. They fly alot more crowded than do civilian aircraft and it happens.
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:49amMay you all rest in peace and my condolences for their families. Such a tragic when something like this happens.
Report Post »SoundStride
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:45amRemember when Bush was President the MSM news told us every night how many soldiers died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq I guess the only brave men that have died in the last three years were just in accidental crashes huh. The pinko liberal socialist media sucks there just a branch of the Democratic party. God Bless our Troops.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:34pmActually, they stopped because since Obama’s inauguration, more service men and women have been killed than the number killed than in the previous 8 years.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:23am.
More things like this will happen as Obama and the Democrats dismantel the US Armed Forces…..
Semper Fi my brothers Rest in Peace…………
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:57amMy heartbreaks…Thank you for your brave service, you are my heroes. Prayers to the family and friends. God bless America. Semper Fi!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:31amTraining flights from Camp Pendelton routinely fly over our area. We know it as the sound of freedom and rarely does anyone ever complain. Prayers go out to the families and friends. It tough to lose good people but this is a dangerous business, even just conducting training at home.
Report Post »objectivetruth
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:54amRest in Peace.Your fellow marines on the other side are there with you.Semper Fi.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:54amSemper Fidelis to my fallen Marine comrades and Chesty will be there at the pearly gates with open arms….Amen
Report Post »TheGrayrider
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:52amYou would be surprised how many “training accidents” occur and for how long they have been…occurring.
Report Post »1/75..
COFemale
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:51amSo are you saying we are ignorant here GrayRider? For the record I was an Air Force wife.
May those soldiers rest in peace.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:42amThoughts and prayers to the families of these soldiers who gave their all. This is just beyond heartbreaking and there just can’t be this many “accidents”! Probably won‘t hear about it in the news because we’ll have to hear about another vacation for the worthless bastard in the whitehouse.
Report Post »CleanUpAisle2013
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:38amSo sad when we lose even one Brave Warrior. God Bless their souls and comfort their loved ones. Semper fi!
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:37amIs it me…..or does there seem to be an increase in “accidents” involving our military? Didn’t we hear about a helicopter crash last week in northern Africa? I realize this one is at a training center but why am I sensing “something evil this way comes”……
Prayers and condolences go out to the families of these soldiers.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:39amIt most assuredly is not just you. Same thing many of us have said. Looks like one way or the other they will take the military totally down.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:46amNo, it’s not just you thinking this. It was my first thought after reading the headline.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:52amNow I feel sick to the pit of my stomach…….
I’m still in shock over what happened to the elite force that took OBL out. Something about that felt evil also. Like the exact details and coordinates of their mission were given……..
Report Post »objectivetruth
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:53amNo it isn’t just you.We have been giving contracts out to foriegn governments.We also have acquired parts from same.Remember the chinese software and computer story a few weeks back.In that case it may just be accident.However god only knows how many other countries we have the contracts with.It wouldn’t surprise me to find that the military has recieved parts from countrys we are currently fighting.Nothing surprises me much anymore.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:57amThe Yuma proving grounds also is the unfortunate home of the worst Osprey crash too…..I lost a great Marine as well as 16 other Brothers in that Osprey on Osprey crash…..Military air mishaps happen ALL too often…..Talk to any Marine who has been on ship deployment, I have never been on a West Pac where we haven’t lost at least one Marine/Sailor mostly due to Air Mishaps.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 3:26pm@Cemerius
Report Post »Could be, patriot, but we are at a time when a traitor is in office. Just think about that. Furthermore, if I recall correctly, al-Qaeda encouraged lone wolf attacks from within our military in one of their online videos a while back. As you well know, these SOBs have infiltrated our military. We don’t know how many Hasans or Jihad Joes/Janes are already inside but we do know the Muslim-in-Chief will allow them to undermine our military. These attacks don‘t affect his campaign because they appear to be accidents and nobody in the media or in Hussein’s upper echelon of traitors will investigate. There is a code of silence that has been built around Islamist attacks on our soil. My gut feeling is that the chopper crash in Afghanistan was no mere coincidence. The open threats of retaliation against Hussein ceased after that devastating, unparalleled attack on our troops.