US military helicopter has been found off Florida coast without survivors

The search and rescue mission has become a recovery effort

(AP Images)

The US military helicopter that crashed off the coast of Florida on Tuesday night has been found and the Coast Guard has called off the search for the 11 missing soldiers and Marines that were aboard the aircraft, the New York Times reported.

The helicopter was carrying seven Marines and four soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard on a training mission when it vanished around 8:30 pm on Tuesday. The US military has not released the names of those aboard the helicopter.

“At this point, we are not hopeful for survivors, and we’re transitioning our search and rescue to a recovery effort,” Col. Monte Cannon, the vice commander of the Air Force’s 96th Test Wing, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family members and the units where our soldiers and Marines call home.”

No specific information has been provided on what may have caused the helicopter, a UH-60 Blackhawk, to crash, but dense fog had flooded the area where it went down. The military is expected to conduct an investigation into the crash.

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