NEWS RELEASE - UPDATE #2: U.S. Coast Guard responds to helicopter crash off of James Island, Wash.

SEATTLE – The multiple agency response to recover the crewmembers from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crash that occurred, Wednesday, in the waters near James Island, Wash., has concluded.

One crewmember is at a Seattle hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries and the remaining three are deceased.

The Coast Guard is not releasing the condition of the survivor or the names of the crewmembers until next of kin notification is complete.

The next step of this response is the salvage and investigation phase. The investigation can include survivor interviews, witness interviews, and review of information from the flight data recorder.

The search began at approximately 9:45 a.m., when the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Ak., crew did not perform a routine radio check-in.

The Coast Guard responded with two Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH 60 Jayhawk helicopter crews, two Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., MH 65 Dolphin helicopter crews, and three Coast Guard Station Quillayute, Wash., response boat crews. Dive teams from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the National Parks Service assisted with the search along with the Quileute tribal response teams and Canadian Air Force.

For additional information, updates and/or media inquiries, contact the Thirteenth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237.

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