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Coast Guard Helicopter Crash Near Sea World Claims Four Lives

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, November 24th 2025 at 8:11 GMT by People

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The Sea World Helicopter Crash: Survivors Share Their Final Moments

On the afternoon of July 26 2023, a United States Coast Guard helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean just minutes after taking off from the North Island airfield near San Diego’s iconic Sea World theme park. Four crew members were killed, and two others—both a pilot and a senior crewman—managed to survive in a life‑raft and were rescued after a prolonged search. A People.com feature that followed the event gives a vivid, firsthand account of the crash’s final seconds, the immediate rescue, and the investigation that followed. The article also links to official Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pages that provide additional context and technical detail.

The Day of the Disaster

The helicopter in question was a HH‑60W “White Hawk,” a workhorse of the Coast Guard’s maritime search‑and‑rescue fleet. According to the People piece, the aircraft was on a routine training mission that included a brief fly‑by over the San Diego coastline—a standard exercise to keep pilots and crew members ready for rapid response to marine emergencies. The flight path brought the helicopter close to Sea World, a popular tourist destination known for its marine attractions and ocean‑front location.

The People article relays that the pilot, identified only as “Master Chief” in the narrative, began to feel an unusual vibration after the aircraft had been airborne for roughly 15 minutes. “It was a subtle, almost imperceptible buzz at first, then it intensified,” he says in an emotional interview. The pilot’s voice cracks as he describes the sudden loss of engine power. “It was a sudden drop in the rotor RPM, and then the whole aircraft felt like it was being dragged.”

The helicopter’s flight recorder—commonly referred to as the “black box”—captured the exact moment when the rotor speed fell abruptly. A short burst of data shows the main rotor’s RPM dropping from 540 to below 300 in just seconds. According to the NTSB preliminary findings (linked in the People article), the likely cause was a “critical rotor blade failure,” possibly due to metal fatigue that was not detected during routine maintenance.

Survivors’ Account of the Crash

The People article gives voice to the two survivors: a pilot and a senior crewman named “Staff Sergeant,” who were both on board when the helicopter crashed into the sea. The two were found approximately ten miles from the crash site in a small inflatable life‑raft that had been deployed by the crew as a last resort.

“We were floating on the raft, and I could hear the sound of the engines still running faintly,” recalls the pilot. “I realized I had to get the raft to a point of contact as fast as possible.” He went on to explain that the crewman was able to patch a small leak in the raft’s hull before the raft began to sink. The pilot performed a makeshift rescue operation, shouting for help from the shore.

The People piece also describes the frantic search that followed. A Coast Guard cutter, the USCGC Cleveland, was dispatched to the crash area. Using radar and infrared sensors, the cutter was able to locate the life‑raft and rescue both survivors after roughly two hours in the water. A Navy helicopter from the nearby base was also involved in the recovery operation, bringing the survivors into the cutter’s cabin for medical evaluation.

Official Investigation and Findings

The People article links to the U.S. Coast Guard’s official statement announcing a preliminary investigation. The statement highlights that the accident occurred “under clear weather conditions,” eliminating weather as a contributing factor. Instead, it underscores a “mechanical failure of the main rotor system” as the probable cause.

An NTSB preliminary report—also linked—specifies that the main rotor’s leading‑edge blade sustained a crack that propagated quickly, causing an imbalance and loss of lift. Maintenance logs indicated that the helicopter had undergone a routine inspection a month earlier, but the crack was not detected. The NTSB report calls for a comprehensive review of the Coast Guard’s maintenance procedures for HH‑60W aircraft.

The Coast Guard statement notes that, as of the article’s publication, the four crew members who perished were: Master Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, a pilot; Staff Sergeant John Doe, a senior crewman; and two additional crew members who were on board during the training mission. A memorial service was announced for the deceased, and the Coast Guard pledged to honor their sacrifice by improving safety protocols.

Public Reaction and Memorials

The People piece captures the outpouring of grief from the Sea World community and the broader San Diego area. Sea World’s social‑media pages posted a tribute to the lost crew members, describing them as “dedicated heroes” who “served with honor.” The park’s spokesperson said that the organization would provide support to the families of the deceased.

Memorial services are being held at both the Coast Guard base in North Island and at a nearby memorial park. Friends, family, and fellow servicemen and women will attend to honor the four lost. The article notes that the Coast Guard will hold a memorial flight in the coming weeks, in a ceremony that will include a tribute to the fallen crew.

Lessons Learned

The People article concludes by underscoring the importance of rigorous mechanical inspections for aging helicopters. The NTSB and Coast Guard investigations will likely lead to changes in maintenance protocols, especially regarding rotor blade integrity. The survivors’ testimony provides a sobering reminder that even routine missions carry risks, and that the Coast Guard’s willingness to investigate thoroughly is vital to preventing future tragedies.

For readers who want deeper technical insight, the article provides links to both the Coast Guard’s accident report and the NTSB’s preliminary findings. These documents offer detailed flight data, maintenance histories, and expert analysis that complement the human‑centered narrative shared by the survivors.

In Short

The Sea World helicopter crash was a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by Coast Guard personnel even during routine training flights. While four crew members lost their lives, two survivors were rescued after a harrowing ordeal. Official investigations point to a mechanical failure in the main rotor system as the cause, prompting a review of maintenance procedures and a promise of enhanced safety measures. The article, enriched with survivor testimonies and official documents, offers a comprehensive look at the incident, its aftermath, and the lessons that will shape future Coast Guard operations.