American Forces Press Service

FIFTH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS – An MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to the Navy's Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron-15 crashed Thursday 58 miles southwest of Muscat, Oman, while conducting heavy lift support operations, according to a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command news release issued today.

The crash was not due to hostile activity and the status of the five crew members is still being determined, the release said.

Another MH-53E helicopter assigned to the squadron is on the scene, providing search and rescue assistance, according to the news release.

The incident is under investigation, the release said.

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