Two US Marines were killed when the Super Cobra attack helicopter they were flying in went down in flames during a training exercise at California's camp Pendleton. Firefighters were battling a 120-acre brush fire triggered by the afternoon crash late yesterday. It was the third major accident in the Southern California military base in three months. A similar helicopter crash in July killed one Marine and injured five. Two Marines suffered broken bones when they ejected from a crippled fighter jet that crashed into the Pacific last month during a Camp Pendleton training exercise.
Officials are investigating the cause of yesterday's crash, reports KGTV San Diego. "It's a tough time for us," said USMC Maj. Carl Redding. "Anytime we lose Marines whether in war or in training stateside it's hard for all of us." (More Camp Pendleton stories.)