Seven Service Members Fatally Injured In The Accident

An AH-1W Cobra and a UH-1Y Huey utility helicopter collided Wednesday night during a training exercise over the California desert, resulting in the fatal injury of seven Marines. Six were stationed at Camp Pendleton, and one was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, AZ, according the the Associated Press.

Marine Corps File Image

The accident occurred about 2000 PST. The aircraft were operating in a remote section of the Yuma Training Range Complex located in California. An official news release from Miramar Air Base in San Diego indicates that the names of those service members fatally injured are being withheld pending notification of relatives, and that an investigation is underway.

Lt. Maureen Dooley told the AP that details are still being gathered on the accident.

The Cobra carries a crew of two. There were five people aboard the Huey. The weather was "pretty mild" according to Cpl. Steven Posey, also attached to Miramar.

The area where the accident reportedly occurred is a remote region near the Arizona/California border favored by the Corps for training because of its similarities in terrain and conditions to the mountainous regions of Afghanistan.

FMI: www.marines.mil