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.
Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now.
