SAN DIEGO, (AP) Five missing sailors were declared dead by the U.S. Navy nearly a week following a helicopter crash in the Pacific Ocean. The Navy moved the search to Saturday.
According to the Navy's Pacific fleet, the move was the result of more than 72 hours worth of coordinated rescue efforts and almost three dozen rescue flights to search for the wreckage.
The names of the sailors would not be released until their next of relatives were notified.
Five other sailors were also injured Tuesday, while they were aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. The MH-60S helicopter was on the deck at the time of the accident.
According to Lt. Samuel R. Boyle (spokesman for the Pacific fleet), they were stable as of Saturday.
The investigation into the cause of the accident, which occurred approximately 70 miles (112 km) from San Diego, is ongoing. However, the fact that the aircraft crashed onto the Lincoln raised questions about whether or not the helicopter was involved. Ground crews are present at the ship when helicopters land and take off. There are also other people on deck.
The Navy said the helicopter crashed in routine flight operations.
The MH-60S helicopter can carry a crew of four people and is used for missions such as search and rescue and humanitarian disaster relief.
The Navys Helicopters Sea Combat Squadron 8 owns the aircraft.
