Six U.S. service members on a peacekeeping mission were killed when a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter crashed off the Egyptian coast.
A French and a Czech service member also died in the accident. One U.S. troop member survived and was medically evacuated, the officials said. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.
During a routine mission in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, nine members of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) were involved in a helicopter crash,” according to a statement from MFO.
The peacekeeping organization confirmed that eight uniformed MFO members were killed including six U.S. citizens, one French, and one Czech. Names of the victims have been withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Defense Department said that it is “deeply saddened by the loss of six U.S. and two partner nation service members in a helicopter crash in the Sinai Peninsula” operating with the UN MFO.
The Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping organization, created by agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel.
