2 die in Camp Pendleton helicopter crash

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. ?? A helicopter that went down during a training exercise at Southern California's Camp Pendleton killed two Marines and set off a fast-moving brush fire on the base Monday.

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Base firefighters were battling the blaze, which had spread to 50 acres (20 hectares) three hours after the accident.

The crash of the Cobra attack helicopter at a training area was reported around 1:30 p.m. local time, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque told signonsandiego.com.

The helicopter was part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, Calif.

KNSD-TV televised images of a brush fire that broke out after the crash. Fire crews were fighting the blaze, which left a thick haze over the area near the town of Fallbrook.

The Marines died at the scene. Their names won't be released until their families have been notified, officials said.

Several accidents have happened in recent months involving Marine Corps training in Southern California, including a fatal accident in July.

In August, two Marines were ejected from their F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet as it plunged toward the Pacific Ocean. The two Marines spent four hours in the dark, chilly ocean before they were rescued. Both suffered broken bones and are undergoing rehabilitation at a San Diego hospital.

In July, a decorated Marine from western New York was killed during a training exercise when his UH-1Y helicopter went down in a remote section of Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego.

Another Hornet sustained at least $1 million damage when its engine caught fire on March 30 aboard the USS John C. Stennis during a training exercise about 100 miles off the San Diego coast. Eight sailors, a Marine and two civilians were injured.

The Navy has said debris in the engine is the suspected cause of that fire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44585020/ns/us_news-life/

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