- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

US Soldier Feared Dead After Black Hawk Helicopter Crash in Yemen

© AP Photo / Alik KepliczU.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters support soldiers during the NATO Noble Jump exercise on a training range near Swietoszow Zagan, Poland. Polish leaders say the country is buying Polish-made Black Hawk helicopters as it modernizes the army.
U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters support soldiers during the NATO Noble Jump exercise on a training range near Swietoszow Zagan, Poland. Polish leaders say the country is buying Polish-made Black Hawk helicopters as it modernizes the army. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
A US service member is missing after a Black Hawk helicopter fell into the water some 20 miles off the coast of Yemen on Friday during a routine training session.

According to Stripes.com, five other service members aboard the helicopter were rescued immediately following the crash, whose cause is unknown. 

Smoke billows from buildings following a reported air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on October 5, 2016 - Sputnik International
Saudi Coalition Launches Probe Into Reported Airstrikes in Yemen's Sanaa

A Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement, "This aircraft was based and launched from an overseas location [in support of] US Central Command operations."

A Centcom spokesperson stated, "When the incident took place the helicopter was not very high above the water," cited by Reuters.

US Central Command officials commented on the routine nature of military training programs.

"Training events such as this are routinely held by US forces within a theater of operations in order to maintain the proficiency within the operating environment," a Central Command official stated.

The US Centcom statement added: "Commanders deemed this location appropriate and safe for a routine training event, considering both the operational environment and weather conditions at the time."

Yemen has been involved in an ongoing civil war since March 2015, between the armed Houthi political opposition faction — supported in part by Iran — and a Saudi-led coalition supported by the US. The Saudis have been consistently reproached for killing innocent civilians in airstrikes that implement US-made weapons.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала