All seven crew members were rescued from a crash of a Navy HH-60H Seahawk helicopter off the coast of southern California Nov. 11 and returned safely to USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) with minor injuries.
The helicopter crashed at approximately 9 p.m. local time.
The helicopter is assigned to "Golden Falcons" Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, stationed at Naval Air Station North Island. It was providing support for the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group at the time of the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The Everett, Wash.-based Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, embarked Carrier Air Wing 2, the ships of Destroyer Squadron 9, and commander, Carrier Strike Group 9 are underway approximately 100 miles from San Diego participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise.
The exercise is designed to enhance the interoperability of the strike group. The strike group is completing qualifications in preparation to deploy overseas early next year.