Accident at San Clemente Island
October 31, 2009According to federal aviation and military officials reports a Coast Guard plane and a Cobra Attack helicopter crashed Thursday night after hitting each other nearly 16 miles east of San Clemente Island, California. The reason of collide is yet not known.
Though the exact details are still unconfirmed but it is being expected that 7 people were there to be on-board a C-130 plan and two were travelling in the AH-1 helicopter.
Navy and Coast Guard officials set a rescue search in motion and had started to point out wreckage late Thursday. Three Coast Guard cutters and four Navy vessels are contributing for search.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the midair crash was reported at 7:10 p.m.
Weather conditions might be the cause of accident but weather was believed to be good because Coast Guard officials reported tranquil and clear skies as they started their search, with the coordination of the Navy.
Maj. Jay Delarosa, Marine official said that the helicopter belonged to the third Marine Aircraft Wing, which is founded at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station but it was positioned at Camp Pendleton, and two people were there on helicopter and the Cobra was on its training mission.
It was not examined first time; military helicopters have been involved in 2 deadly accidents in San Diego County, before this. Two Miramar-based Marines were downed to death when a Super Cobra helicopter, they were travelling in, collided in the Cleveland.
Coast Guard team is still on search for the bodies.
Tags: ah 1, ah 1w super cobra, ah 1w super cobra helicopter, c 130, c130, channel islands, cobra helicopter, san clemente, san clemente island, san clemente island ca, uh 1 helicopter
