AN Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter has been lost at sea near Fiji, The Australian Defence Force (ADF) said tonight.
Defence offered few details, saying only that the helicopter had been operating from aboard the landing ship HMAS Kanimbla.
Kanimbla and two other Australian warships were despatched earlier this month to stand by off Fiji to rescue Australian nationals in event of a coup by the Fijian military.
Defence Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston will hold a media conference later this evening.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...5-1702,00.html
Australian soldier killed in Black Hawk crash
By 7News An Australian Black Hawk Helicopter has crashed off the coast of Fiji, killing at least one soldier on board and leaving others missing.
The aircraft was operating from the HMAS Kanimbla which is off Fiji to rescue Australian nationals in the event of a military coup in the country.
The Australian Defence Department confirmed a Black Hawk has been lost at sea off the coast of Fiji.
Australian Defence Chief Angus Houston will address the media in Canberra later tonight.
The Black Hawk is the main transport helicopter for the Australian Army.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/061129/23/11lza.html
Our thoughts are with them!!