The U.S. Navy is set to initiate a search and salvage operation for an Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that tragically crashed in the Mediterranean Sea on November 10. The accident claimed the lives of all five special operations soldiers onboard. The Pentagon identified the deceased as Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer. They were conducting aerial refueling training when the helicopter encountered an in-flight emergency, leading to the crash.
The incident is currently under investigation, with further details yet to be released. The 6th Fleet announced that the NG Worker, a 288-foot offshore supply vessel equipped with advanced positioning and underwater survey equipment, will depart from Sicily soon. Accompanied by a Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving team, the vessel will use a shallow water intermediate search system and a towed pinger locator to detect the helicopter’s pinger frequency.
Upon locating the wreckage, a 4,100-pound underwater drone will be deployed to retrieve it from the depths. While the exact location of the wreckage remains undisclosed, the Navy confirmed that the drone is capable of conducting salvage operations down to 8,000 feet. The 6th Fleet emphasized its commitment to making every effort to recover both the aircraft and the remains of the fallen soldiers.
