Update: Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis from The Louisiana Army National Guard gave a brief update this afternoon about a Tuesday evening helicopter crash that involved four guardsmen and seven marines. As of 2:30 p.m., the crash is being classified as a search and rescue mission.
Officials gave little information about the four guardsmen but did say they are all married with children and from Louisiana. They do not want to reveal the names of the guardsmen at this time to respect the families.
HAMMOND, La. (WGNO) – The Louisiana Army National Guard will hold a news conference in Hammond, Louisiana, at 2 p.m. Wednesday regarding Tuesday’s crash of a Black Hawk helicopter off the coast of Florida.
The Coast Guard confirms that some military aircraft debris and human remains have been found off the coast of the Florida panhandle, according to ABC News.
Four national guard members and seven marines were reported missing early Wednesday morning after a helicopter crashed into the water during a night training exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida Tuesday night around 8:30 p.m., base officials said.
Guard spokesman Colonel Pete Schneider said the helicopter was assigned to 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion based in Hammond.
The marines on board were from Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.
Eglin Air Force Base spokesman Andy Bourland told ABC News that it’s unknown if weather played a factor.
“There was fog. I do not know at this time if it was a contributing factor, but when our search and rescue personnel arrived on scene there was very limited visibility,” he said.
The accident happened during a training mission on a beach between Pensacola and Destin.
Colonel Pete Schneider says he cannot recall anything like this happening, in his memory.
“I’ve been in the Louisiana National Guard for 30 years. But I don’t have a recollection of this kind of training accident,” said Colonel Schneider.
The group was involved in a training exercise involving two military helicopters, specifically UH-60 BlackHawk aircraft, around 8:30 Tuesday night.
One of those helicopters was not involved in the accident, and the four onboard have returned home safely.
But the fate of the four on the other helicopter – plus seven marines– is still unknown.
“As you can imagine, all the soldiers and the airmen, everyone in the Lousiana National Guard, the 11,000 members are praying for the soldiers and the marines and their families. Our thoughts and prayers. We are reaching out to the families to give them any assistance they may need. We’re also prepared to provide any resources that the Coast Guard or any other agency may require, but we’re all members of the military. We understand what our mission is. We understand that there is great risk in everything that we do. That’s why we continue to train and prepare. But these times are tough. But as family we will get through it,” said Colonel Schneider.
They’re not giving out specifics about the four National Guard members involved at this time.
“The search and rescue is ongoing, but we’re not prepared to release names or where exactly they are from in Louisiana,” said Colonel Schneider.
Now, they’re just waiting on what the Coast Guard discovers.
“Certainly any loss of life involved is tragic, but members of the military understand, in a training environment, how we train, how we prepare four our state and our nation is inherently dangerous. That’s why these individuals, these soldiers, these marines are so special, because they assume the risk and still decide this is worth it. We’re all praying for the soldiers and their families. And the marines,” said Colonel Schneider.