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U.S. Navy helicopter crashes near Yokosuka Naval Base

Posted at 1:28 PM, Dec 16, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-16 17:34:19-05

A U.S. Navy Seahawk helicopter crash landed in an empty area of reclaimed land about 10 miles southwest of Yokosuka Naval Base, officials announced Monday.

The MH-60S aircraft belonged to HSC-12 out of Naval Air Facility Atsugi. The squadron belongs to the USS George Washington’s carrier air wing. They typically perform search and rescue operations, anti-surface warfare exercises, and other functions.

A distress call was sent at 3:31 p.m., according to a Commander Naval Forces Japan spokesman.

The helicopter crashed when it attempted an emergency landing in the area, ultimately landing on its left side.

According to Stars and Stripes, a fire department spokesman said, of the four crewmembers aboard, two appeared to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One appeared to have a suffered a leg injury, the spokesman said.

Navy officials say the injured crewmembers were transported to a hospital in Yokosuka and are stable.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.