On Friday, a helicopter crash in the Mediterranean claimed the lives of five U.S. special operations troops during a training mission, as confirmed by U.S. officials on Sunday.

The U.S. European Command initiated search and rescue operations immediately, and an investigation into the crash’s cause is currently underway.

The personnel on board were identified as U.S. Army special operations members, according to two anonymous U.S. officials. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin characterized the incident as a “training accident” in a statement.

Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, the United States has deployed the aircraft carriers Ford and Eisenhower, along with supporting ships and numerous aircraft, to the eastern Mediterranean, Reuters reported.

This deployment serves as a deterrent to prevent the escalation of the conflict.

The U.S. European Command, responsible for overseeing American military operations in Europe and parts of the Middle East, officially confirmed the crash on Saturday.

Written by B.C. Begley