PHILIPPINE SEA -- The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) resumed flight operations after an MH-60R Seahawk assigned to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 made an emergency landing and crashed on the ship’s flight deck shortly after takeoff at approximately 9:00 a.m., Oct. 19.
The cause of the mishap is under investigation.
Servicemembers injured in the crash are in stable condition for non-life threatening injuries that ranged from minor abrasions and lacerations to fractures. The most seriously injured were medically evacuated off the ship to a hospital in the Philippines, while remaining injured are under evaluation by Ronald Reagan medical staff.
Families of the injured were notified in accordance with Navy policy.
At the time of the mishap, the Ronald Reagan Strike Group was conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea.
The Ronald Reagan Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.