USN MH-60S crashes in West Virginia - four hurt

[Tintin]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - 19 Feb 2010


A Navy helicopter crashed Thursday during a training exercise in a remote, mountainous area of West Virginia, injuring several of the 17 aboard, the military said.

West Virginia National Guard Lt. Col. Mike Cadle said the mountainous terrain made it difficult for rescue teams to reach the crash site, but military crews circling overhead were in touch with the aircraft.

Trees at the crash site were too thick to land a helicopter, but medical crews were lowered to the site.

A West Virginia Guard officer earlier said four were injured in the crash, but a Navy news release issued later would only say that there were "several" injuries. There were no deaths, and the extent of the injuries was still being determined.

The helicopter took off from Fort Pickett in Virginia as part of a training exercise involving the Navy and National Guard. There were 14 Navy and three National Guard members on helicopter, which was headed to Camp Dawson near Kingwood, W.Va.

Rescue crews reached the crash site more than four hours after the Navy MH-60S helicopter went down in Pocahontas County, about 100 miles south of Kingwood. The helicopter is based at the Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.