Coast Guard helicopter crashes off Washington state’s coast

Coast Guard copter crashes off Washington coast

SEATTLE — A spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard says one of its helicopters has crashed off the Washington coast, and one of its crew members remains missing.

The MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter with four crew members crashed Wednesday morning off James Island, near La Push, Wash., which is about 100 miles west of Seattle.

Two of the members were retrieved by members of the Quileute Nation minutes after the crash, and taken to local hospitals. Their conditions were not known.

Petty officer Nathan Bradshaw says a third member has been located, but that person’s condition was not immediately known.

Bradshaw says the helicopter was traveling from Astoria, Ore. to Sitka, Alaska. He says the Coast Guard lost contact with the helicopter around 9:30 a.m.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LA PUSH, Wash. (AP) — A spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard says one of its helicopters has gone down off the Washington coast, and two of its crew members are missing.

Petty officer Nathan Bradshaw in Seattle says rescue crews are looking for the missing crew off the waters of James Island, near La Push, Wash. The helicopter was carrying a crew of four. La Push is about 100 miles west of Seattle.

Bradshaw says the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was traveling from Astoria, Ore., to Sitka, Alaska. The Coast Guard lost contact with the chopper around 9:30 a.m.

The Coast Guard says two of the crew members were retrieved by a civilian and have been transferred to a local hospital.