America
11 US soldiers missing after helicopter crash in Florida
Washington, March 11
Seven marines and
four other US soldiers were reported missing after an Army helicopter
crashed during a routine exercise in the south-eastern state of Florida.
US media reported that the accident took place outside the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida's north-western region.
The
missing marines were part of a Camp Lejeune-based special operations
group in North Carolina, while the other soldiers are from a Hammond,
Louisiana-based National Guard unit, said official US sources.
The
helicopter was reported missing by the authorities on Tuesday night at
8.30 p.m., while rescue teams found the wreckage about six hours later.
Apparently,
the plane crashed during a routine training manoeuvre on a beach
stretch between Pensacola and Destin, an area commonly used to conduct
military exercises.
A spokesperson for the Eglin Air Force Base,
Andy Bourland, told the US NBC Television Network that search and rescue
operations were still underway and that it was too soon to say what
caused the crash; however, there had been "weather issues" during the
night.
Bourland added that visibility was limited due to darkness and fog.