5 US service members killed in military helicopter crash over the Mediterranean

BERLIN (AP) — U.S. officials say five U.S. service members were killed when a military helicopter crashed during training over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The military’s European Command said all five crew members were killed when the copter went down “during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training.” The military said the cause is under investigation but there are no indications hostile activity was involved. It first reported the crash Saturday and said on Sunday that search and rescue efforts began immediately. The aircraft’s branch of service wasn’t immediately clear. The Air Force has sent additional squadrons to the region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean.