One person was killed and eight injured in a crash of a Panamanian helicopter, a Bell 412, carrying nine crew onboard, while working together with USS Halyburton (FFG 40) in support of anti-drug operation Martillo, the U.S. Navy said in a release.
The accident occurred when the Panamanian helicopter took over monitoring activities from the U.S. counterpart, Cutlass 466, the MH-60R attached to the Halyburton. As reported, U.S. service members have not been injured in the incident.
The Halyburton crew launched search and rescue immediately, sending back its helicopter to the scene. Cutlass 466 took onboard six of the wounded and rushed them to a hospital in Panama, while Panamanian forces rescued and transported the other two survivors.
USS Halyburton, (FFG 40), is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the US Navy, currently deployed in the Caribbean Sea within Operation Martillo targeting illicit trafficking operations.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 7, 2014; Image: US Navy