U.S. News
Tragic Military Aviation Accidents Raise Safety Concerns
Clear Facts
- A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay, injuring two pilots who were promptly rescued.
- Several fatal non-combat military aviation accidents occurred in recent years, including helicopter and Osprey crashes.
- Mechanical failures and adverse weather contributed to multiple deadly incidents involving American service members.
This week, a U.S. Navy electronic-warfare aircraft went down in San Diego Bay, leaving both pilots injured but alive.
Other aviation accidents across the military have proven far deadlier for service members.
Recent Deadliest Accidents
On February 6, 2024, five Marines lost their lives when their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed in a storm outside San Diego.
Weather conditions in the region included rain and snow, making flight dangerous for the crew from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
The Marines who died were Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, Sgt. Alec Langen, Capt. Benjamin Moulton, Capt. Jack Casey, and Capt. Miguel Nava.
Bradford Moulton, uncle of one of the victims, emphasized that he wished the men had remained “on the ground” during the “thousand-year storm.”
On November 29, 2023, eight Air Force Special Operations members perished when their CV-22B Osprey crashed during a training mission off southern Japan.
The incident temporarily grounded all Osprey aircraft following the mishap near Okinawa.
An Air Force inquiry determined the accident resulted from gear cracks and the pilot’s choice to fly on despite multiple warnings to land.
Five Army Special Operations aviation soldiers died on November 10, 2023, after their MH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed into the eastern Mediterranean Sea during a nighttime training flight over water.
“Our service members put their lives on the line for our country every day,” former President Biden stated. “They willingly take risks to keep the American people safe and secure. And their daily bravery and selflessness is an enduring testament to what is best in our nation.”
On March 9, 2023, nine soldiers were killed when two HH60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division collided during a training exercise in Trigg County, Kentucky.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear remarked, “For Fort Campbell, for the 101st. The nine individuals we lost are children to God, they will be mourned and missed by their families, by their communities.”
June 8, 2022, saw five Marines die during a training mission when an MV-22B Osprey belonging to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed in the California desert due to a mechanical clutch failure.
Five crew members were killed on August 31, 2021, when a Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter went down in the ocean following operations near the USS Abraham Lincoln, about 60 nautical miles from San Diego.
Each of these incidents serves as a tragic reminder of the risks our servicemen and women face in defense of the nation. Share your perspective on supporting safety in military training and honoring those lost.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
