US Navy helicopter crashes in Philippine Sea, crew rescued

Five aircrew were rescued after the US MH-60S helicopter went down in the Philippine Sea on January 25, the US Navy said.

The incident occurred approximately 180 kilometers off the east coast of Okinawa Island on Saturday afternoon, the Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed in a separate statement.

At the time of the crash, the MH-60 assigned to Blue Ridge was conducting routine operations.

Three aircrew were recovered by a Japan Air Self-Defense Force UH-60 search and rescue helicopter, and the other two were recovered by a USS Blue Ridge MH-60S helicopter.

As informed, three of them were transported by the Japanese helicopter to Naval Hospital Okinawa for evaluation, while two aircrew returned by US Navy helicopter to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19).

All five crew members are currently in stable condition, the navy added.

Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japanese Coast Guard, USS America (LHA 6), USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the U.S. Air Force all participated in the search and rescue.