Friday, October 30, 2009

The U.S. Coast Guard says a Navy helicopter has crashed into the sea off the Southern California coast.

Petty Officer Henry Dunphy says the Navy reported the crash at about 7 p.m. Thursday. The helicopter went down about 17 miles east of San Clemente Island, the farthest south of the Channel Islands.

Coast Guard and Navy vessels are searching for the helicopter.

Dunphy didn't immediately say how many people were on the helicopter or release any other details on the crash.