Three people died and two remain unaccounted for after a helicopter operated by the Mexican Navy crashed off the coast of Michoacán, in the western part of the country. Eight Navy personnel were aboard the Panther-type helicopter, and three were rescued alive, receiving medical care at port. The deceased include two women and one man.
The Mexican Navy Secretariat, SEMAR, reported that the incident occurred shortly after the helicopter lifted off from the patrol ship Juárez, some 370 kilometers from the city of Lázaro Cárdenas, as part of ongoing maintenance operations. The agency noted that the causes of the accident are not yet known and that an investigation has been opened to determine what happened. Search and rescue operations for the missing crew members are ongoing.
SEMAR expressed deep condolences for the loss of naval personnel who dedicated their lives to service and to the nation as the statement noted. Further updates will be provided by the marine authority as investigations progress. [Source attribution: SEMAR]