The US Navy has tracked down and recovered the missing MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in November.
The aircraft was being used for routine flight training in the region when it experienced an emergency resulting in an accident. It was carrying five aviation soldiers under the US Army Special Operations, all of whom were killed.
An investigation of the incident found no indications of hostile intervention by another party. The Pentagon released the names of the personnel involved in the tragedy the same week.
In early December, the navy announced that a team would search the region.
Recovered Safely
The retrieval operation involved experts from the navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 (EODMU), the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command, and sub-surface solutions provider Phoenix International.
This team utilized a contracted NG Worker offshore multipurpose vessel to transport them from Augusta Bay, Sicily, and aid with on-site tasks.
The 288-foot (88-meter) ship incorporated survey and position technologies that were complemented by a Deep Drone underwater vehicle.
The 4,100-pound (1,860-kilogram) remote-controlled system can dive for mid-water salvage operations up to 8,000 feet (2438 meters).
According to the US Navy, the remains of two servicemen were found and collected during the mission’s initial phase.
The remaining bodies will be flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and returned to their families. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
“The success of this mission can be attributed to highly trained Sailors, Soldiers, and civilians from the combined Army-Navy team who came together and displayed extreme skill to safely recover the helicopter,” EODMU 8 Commander John Kennedy stated.
“Everyone onboard was humbled by the opportunity to play a small role in helping to bring closure to grieving families.”