Blawk Hawk aircraft crahses in water

8:05 AM
A Louisiana National Guard Black Hawk aircraft was involved in an accident in Navarre, Florida today. Seven marines were on board the helicopter on a training mission. The helicopter was reported missing at 8:30 pm last night. The accident is under investigation.

8:24 AM
The helicopter was found near the waters of Santa Rosa Sound in Navarre, Florida, Louisiana National Guard spokesmen Ted Smith said. A search and rescue mission is under way at the accident site near the waters of Santa Rosa Sound in Navarre, Florida. The names of those on board the aircraft are pending notification of family members.

8:31 AM
 Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has released a statement. "This morning I spoke to the general of the National Guard offering my prayers and support," Jindal said. "These soldiers represent the best and we are praying for them and their families."

UPDATE 9:00 AM
Eglin Air Force Base Spokesman Andy Vourland has released a statement. "We have found some human remains." Vourland said that the downed helicopter crashed over the water. The chopper was accompanied by another copter on the training mission. That chopper returned to Eglin base safely, located 45 miles east of Pensacola. We have no further details on the human remains.

10:00 AM
Approximately 50 people, many carrying flowers, are gathering at a fence in Navarre near the crash site. Many of them are praying and several are crying. This impromptu vigil appears to be growing. We have talked to several people who said they are there to support the servicemen.

UPDATE 10:22 AM
Aircraft debris has washed ashore along with human remains. Poor visibility due to fog is hampering the rescue operation. It appears that stormy weather overnight during the operation and weather issues may be a cause for the accident. Service members from Eglin Air Force Base search for the down helicopter The aircraft was from the 244th helicopter battalion stationed in Hammond, Louisiana.

10:56 AM
Andy Vourland has released another statement. "We have now learned that the aircraft has been recovered from the waters of Santa Rosa Sound,” Vourland said. “I can confirm that all seven marines aboard have been killed. They're all gone." Louisiana National Guard Captain Ted Smith has released a statement. "We are preparing to release the names of the marines killed in the helicopter accident today,” Smith said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families."

UPDATE 11:38 AM
The names of the Marines killed in the accident have been released.
Top row: Andrew C. Seif, Trevor P. Baylock, Thomas A. Saudners, Liam A. Flynn
Bottom row: Stanford H. Shaw III, Marcus S. Bawoll, Kerry M. Kemp

UPDATE 12:16 PM
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal tweeted the following: "Today is a sad day for our military families in Louisiana. God bless and keep the families."

UPDATE 1:00 PM
Ted Smith has released the following statement. "We are now in a recovery operation,” Smith said. “We are now in the process of recovering the remains of the Marines. They will be transported to Eglin Air Force Base. Investigators from the Air Force are on scene conducting a probe into today's accident. The waters of Santa Rosa Sound are closed to any boaters until the accident scene is cleared. We expect our accident scene to be cleared by 9 PM tonight."

*This is not an actual story, but was an assignment for my reporting class.