Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán — Three naval personnel were killed Wednesday after their helicopter plunged into the sea. The accident happened 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.
According to the Secretary of the Navy, during operations carried out by the Institution, a Panther-type air-naval unit (helicopter) which was on board the ARM long-range ocean patrol vessel Juarez suffered an accident moments after taking off from the flight deck of said vessel.
To date, the causes of this accident are unknown. Eight naval personnel were transported on this aircraft, of which three were rescued alive and stable, however, three of them lost their lives (two women and one man) and two remain missing.
Naval personnel continue to search for the missing as well as investigate the cause of the fatal accident.
“The Mexican Navy Secretariat regrets the death of those who lost their lives in this accident, naval personnel, who in life showed their service and dedication to the nation,” they wrote in a statement.
