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Navy calls of search, identifies dead in helicopter crash

WASHINGTON — The Navy has called off the search for a sailor missing since a Navy helicopter with five crew members aboard crashed in the ocean off the Virginia coast Wednesday, Jan. 8.

The public affairs staff from the Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic also identified the sailors killed in the crash of a Helicopter Mine Counter Measures Squadron (HM-14) MH-53E Sea Dragon.

Lt. J. Wesley Van Dorn, 29, of Greensboro, N.C. and Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) (AWS-3) Brian Andrew Collins, 25, of Truckee, Cal. died after being rescued and taken to a local hospital.

Van Dorn, a Navy pilot, has been in the Navy for nearly seven years and Collins has served for a little more than two years.

Two crew members were injured in the crash off the Virginia Beach coast. One has been released from Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and the other remains hospitalized in good condition. Their identities have not been released.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

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