29 March 2011

USMC CH-53D Forced Landing

A MCAF Kāne‘ohe Bay-based US Marines Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion executed an emergency landing on a sandbar two miles from shore in Kāne‘ohe Bay earlier this evening, around 1920HST. It was carrying four crew members when the helicopter went down. All four evacuated, and were rescued. They were taken to the Queen's Medical Center. Sadly, one the four crew members died. The unit involved is Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363) "Red Lions", which is part of Marine Air Group 24 (MAG-24), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW).

The HNL RareBirds team extends our thoughts and prayers to the four involved, and their families. We also thank them, the "Red Lions", and all service personnel for serving our country.

Pictured above is BuNo. 156961, from the HMH-363, on display at the 2010 Kāne‘ohe Bay Air Show.

From social media postings, it was reported that "27" was the CH-53D involved in the emergency landing.

Hawai‘i News Now coverage.

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