Navy Helicopter Crashes, Kills 2

Updated: Jan. 8, 2013, 9:10 p.m. E.T.

A U.S. military helicopter crashed off the coast of Virginia on Wednesday, the Navy said, killing at least two, according to the Associated Press.

The Navy confirmed that search-and-rescue operations were under way off the coast of Norfolk, Va. Five people were aboard the MH-53E helicopter, the Associated Press reports. Four had been rescued by early Wednesday afternoon, the Coast Guard said. Two of the rescued crew died later in the hospital, and a fifth member was still missing.

The Navy updated the public on the accident in a series of tweets:

The MH-53E Sea Dragon is an out-of-production helicopter intended for airborne mine countermeasures and Navy onboard delivery missions. It carries no weapons.

[AP]

This story was updated to reflect the most recent death toll and tweets from the U.S. Navy.