Search Continues for Missing Copter
Navy and Coast Guard rescue crews Monday were searching a wide expanse of ocean and land for a Navy Air Reserve helicopter missing with a crew of three during a flight from Northern California to San Diego.
The RH-53D helicopter left the Alameda Naval Air Station at 9:30 a.m. Sunday for North Island. Navy officials said the aircraft was supposed to arrive in San Diego at 2:30 p.m. and only had enough fuel for 5 1/2 hours of flying.
When the helicopter failed to arrive, the Navy and Coast Guard began a search.
Lt. Cmdr. Vivian Ballard, spokeswoman at the Alameda Naval Air Station, said the helicopter crew did not report any problems with the aircraft. The aircraft was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 19 at Alameda.
The Coast Guard committed five aircraft to the search, and eight Navy aircraft are also involved. However, two days of searching have failed to turn up anything.
Officials said they will resume the search today. Navy officials refused to release the names of the missing crew members.
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