Atlanta, GA 3/1/2012 5:40:01 AM
News / People

Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes During Training, 1 Dead And 3 Missing

Divers continued to search a portion of Alabama’s Mobile Bay near Point Clear Wednesday for three missing Coast Guard members who were involved in a helicopter crash Tuesday night. Coast Guard officials say four members were on a training mission in an MH-65C helicopter when the aircraft went down in the bay. The body of one crew member, a rescue diver, has been recovered.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crew members during this difficult time," said the commanding officer of the Coast Guard’s Mobile sector.

The pilot and the co-pilot of the helicopter remain missing along with a flight mechanic. All three were wearing dry suits at the time of the crash. Water temperatures hovered around 60 degrees today.

Rescue teams have located the wreckage of the helicopter, but have been unable to get into the cabin because the front of the aircraft is sunk in the muddy bottom of the bay. The cause of the crash is unclear and is under investigation.

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