U.S. Coast Guard cutters, helicopters and Navy SEALS search the waters off the coast of San Diego

December 9, 1999
Web posted at: 8:37 p.m. EST (0137 GMT)

SAN DIEGO (CNN) -- A military helicopter with 18 people aboard crashed and sank into the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Pentagon officials told CNN that 11 survivors were rescued and seven people remain in the water after the helicopter sank.

Of the 11 rescued, nine were taken for treatment to the USS Bonhomme Richard, fully equipped for trauma cases, and were in stable condition, officials said. The other two Marines were taken to Balboa Naval Hospital with more serious injuries.

"It's somewhere below the surface. We don't know how far it sank," said Coast Guard Lt. Eric Carter.

The CH-46 helicopter went down about 1:16 p.m. PST (2116 GMT) about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west-southwest of Point Loma, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Jamie Devitt Chacon. The helicopter crashed into the sea near the USNS Pecos. It was headed toward the ship at the time of the crash, officials said.

The helicopter was taking part in naval exercises. The Marines involved are members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, stationed at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego.

Coast Guard cutters and helicopters were involved in the rescue effort, along with Navy SEALS.

Neither the Coast Guard nor Marines were able to immediately provide information on the condition of those Marines picked up at sea.

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