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Four Rescued From Navy Helicopter Crash Off Virginia Coast

U.S. Navy, Sailors board a MH-53E helicopter in a 2011. The "Sea Dragon" helicopter is similar to the one that crashed off Virginia on Wednesday.
Lt. Cmdr. John L. Kline
U.S. Navy, Sailors board a MH-53E helicopter in a 2011. The "Sea Dragon" helicopter is similar to the one that crashed off Virginia on Wednesday.

At least four people of the five people aboard a U.S. Navy helicopter that went down in the Atlantic Ocean about 18 miles east of Cape Henry have been rescued, The Virginian-Pilot reports.

A report of the crash of the giant MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter was received at about 11:30 a.m. ET, Petty Officer David Weydert tells the newspaper.

Navy spokesman Cmdr. Mike Kafka says the four people rescued were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, but that their medical condition was not known.

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The Virginian-Pilot says the cutter Shearwater was just two miles from away when the crash occurred. The Associated Press reports that two Coast Guard vessels as well as local law enforcement were continuing to search for the fifth occupant.

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