CENTCOM Denies US Helicopter Crash in Red Sea

US Central Command "CENTCOM" today, Tuesday, denied the validity of reports regarding the crash of a US Navy helicopter in the Red Sea.

CENTCOM said in a statement that "Iranian official media outlets are promoting false reports claiming the crash of an MH-60R helicopter belonging to the US Navy in the Red Sea, following its declaration of an emergency last night."

CENTCOM described the reports about the fall of a US Navy helicopter in the Red Sea as incorrect, adding: "All aircraft and US military personnel in the Middle East region are safe and stationed at their locations."

Last Monday evening, flight tracking systems reported recording an emergency over the waters of the Red Sea, where a US Navy helicopter broadcast a distress signal before disappearing from radar screens off the coast of the Saudi city of Yanbu.

Iranian media outlets circulated this story, and Fars Agency indicated that radar information showed "the displayed altitude of this American helicopter was zero above sea level, increasing the likelihood of its crash."