Eight troops were killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Egypt, according to a statement from the international peacekeeping mission Multinational Force and Observers. On Thursday, the organization announced that eight troops were aboard a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter when it crashed off the coast of Egypt. Six American troops were among the casualties, along with one French soldier, and one Czech soldier.
One member of the force survived and was evacuated, according to the MFO.
Israeli and Egyptian officials also confirmed the crash to Fox News and CNN on Thursday.
#BREAKING: this morning - Israeli and Egyptian official say - 7 peacekeepers, including Americans, killed in helicopter crash in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. @hollymenino with the latest details this AM on #KOMONews from the #LiveDesk pic.twitter.com/f4dAlBd0t3
— Ryan Yamamoto KOMO (@YamsTV) November 12, 2020
There have been small discrepancies in the number of people who were reported dead. Some sources have indicated that eight people were killed, while others reported that the number was 7. It is likely that the sources who were reporting seven deaths simply had older information.
The individuals were serving on a “routine mission in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt,” according to the statement.
“At this point, there is no information to indicate the crash was anything except an accident,” MFO said.
An investigation is underway, but officials told reporters that they suspect that a mechanical failure was the cause of the crash.
It is estimated that there are up to 400 American troops based in the Sinai, on behalf of a UN mission that began in 1979, with the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.
#BREAKING Seven killed in a helicopter crash in Egypt pic.twitter.com/fElMaPvHoy
— WGN Morning News (@WGNMorningNews) November 12, 2020
“During a routine mission in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, eight uniformed members of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) were involved in a helicopter crash. We are deeply saddened to report that seven MFO members were killed; this includes six U.S. citizens, one French and one Czech. One U.S. MFO Member survived and was medically evacuated. Names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin,” the official statement read.
