Eglin Air Force Base spokesman Andy Bourland said, “A search and rescue operation was launched after one of two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters participating in a routine nighttime training mission crashed.” He added, “The helicopter went down over water.”
Bourland said the missing Marines were from a special operations regiment out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The helicopters and air crew were assigned to the Army National Guard unit out of Hammond, Louisiana.
Officials said a Coast Guard vessel recovered debris including the downed chopper’s tail rotor overnight. Searchers also found debris in the Okaloosa Island area near Eglin at about 2 a.m.
Bourland said they believe bad weather and heavy fog played a part in the crash. The crash scene is near a remote stretch of beach between Pensacola and Destin.
“Sadly, we have found some human remains,” Bourland said.
Bourland said finding the 11 servicemen dead was the military’s worst fear.