Marines Helicopter Crashes With 25 on Board

Close call in the Arabian Sea: A group of 17 Marines and eight Navy sailors avoided serious injury today when their helicopter crashed in the Gulf of Aden, the Navy says. The CH-53E Super Stallion—a Marine Corps helicopter—was trying to land on the USS Mesa Verde's deck at the time (but wasn't under enemy attack). Now all 25 troops are on board the ship, some with minor injuries, the AP reports. Chuck Hagel had ordered the transport dock ship to the Persian Gulf this summer after the Islamic State swiped land in northern Iraq and was heading for Baghdad.

The Super Stallion is a "heavy lift" helicopter that can move tons of cargo on long hauls or "enough combat-loaded Marines to lead an assault or humanitarian operation," Military.com reports. In this case, the troops were reportedly returning from training in Djibouti. (More helicopter crash stories.)