Unmanned Fire Scout Helicopter Crashes Into San Diego-Based USS Charleston

San Diego CA

28 April, 2021

4:52 PM

Description

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego April 27, 2021 An unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter crashed into the side of USS Charleston after taking off from the littoral combat ship around 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday. The Navy said the San Diego-based ship was training in the eastern Pacific Ocean when the helicopter crashed into the ship's side and the sunk. No personnel were injured in the mishap. Damage to the ship is being assessed, but appears to be limited to an area above the waterline, the Navy said, adding that the Charleston is continuing operations. The 32-foot-long craft was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 basedout of Naval Air Station North Island. Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.