UH-60 crashes; 11 presumed dead

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Seven Marines and four Army helicopter crew members are missing and presumed dead after a UH-60 helicopter crashed during a routine night training exercise near a military-owned stretch of beach between Pensacola and Destin. The Black Hawk from the Louisiana Army National Guard was reported missing around 8:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday. Search-and-rescue crews found debris around 2 a.m. today at Eglin Range A-17, east of the Navarre Bridge. Human remains have washed up on shore, according to Eglin. The Marines are assigned to a Marine Special Operations group from Camp Lajuene, N.C., and the helicopters is assigned to the 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Hammond, La. Reports indicate the helicopter took off from an airport in Destin and joined other helicopters in the training exercise. The names of the Marines and Army aircrew have not been released pending appropriate notifications. (Source: GCAC, 03/11/15)