Looks like there was a tragic military helicopter crash in the states yesterday (THurs 23 Feb 2012). This is just one of many stories on the web this morning.
Marine helicopter collision is investigated | Nation | News from Fort Worth, Dallas, Arl...
SAN DIEGO -- A collision that killed seven Marines in one of the Marine Corps' deadliest aviation training accidents in years occurred over a sprawling desert range favored by the U.S. military because its craggy mountains and hot, dusty weather are similar to Afghanistan.
Officials were scrambling Thursday to determine what caused the AH-1W Cobra and UH-1 Huey to crash during a routine exercise Wednesday night when skies were clear and the weather was mild.
There were no survivors in the accident near the Chocolate Mountains along the California-Arizona border.
Their identities will not be released until their families have been notified. It was the fifth aviation accident since March involving the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego. Throughout the Navy and Marine Corps, there have been only two other aviation training accidents in five years involving seven or more deaths, according to the military's Naval Safety Center.
"It's an unfortunate consequence of the high tempo of operations," said retired Marine Col. J.F. Joseph, an aviation safety consultant.
"They're out there working on the edge trying to exploit the maximum capabilities of the aircraft and their tactics. Just by the virtue of that, in becoming combat-ready, these unfortunately are not uncommon occurrences."
Obviously a very sad day for the family, friends, colleagues etc.