Four members of the U.S. Air Force were killed Tuesday night when their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed into the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Nature Reserve on the northeast coast of England during training.
The helicopter was assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, according to The Pentagon Channel.
Information released on the Norfolk Constabulary website states the Norfolk police, the British Ministry of Defence, and U.S. Air Force are investigating the crash site, which is the size of a "football pitch" (soccer field).
The area has been cordoned off because of bullets scattered across the site.
Norfolk Police Chief Superintendent Bob Scully said the bodies of the airmen will not be removed from the crash site until a thorough investigation has taken place:
"This will remain a police-led operation until such time the Coroner is satisfied that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the four occupants of the helicopter are non suspicious.”
Sue McKnespiey, who lives and works near the crash site, told the Associated Press she heard the helicopter before it went down:
"I don't know about engines but I am used to the sound of helicopters and this sounded very heavy and very unusual. My gut instinct was there was something wrong."
The U.S Department of Defense will not release the names of the deceased until their families are notified.
