SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Navy released the names of the five Sailors who died when their helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of California on Aug 31.
Two of the Sailors are from Virginia, and one is from Maryland, according to Department of Defense officials in a news release on Sunday.
A GoFundMe page to support the families has raised more than $100,000 to help them.
The three Sailors from the Virginia and Maryland area are:
Lt. Paul R. Fridley, 28, a pilot from Annandale, Virginia, Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter)
2nd Class Sarah F. Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland
2nd Class James P. Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia, and Hospital Corpsman
The other two Sailors killed in the crash were Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey J. Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri, and Lt. Bradley A. Foster, 29, a pilot from Oakhurst, California.
On Saturday the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet shifted the "transition from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations comes after more than 72 hours of coordinated rescue efforts encompassing 34 search and rescue flights, over 170 hours of flight time, with five search helicopters and constant surface vessel search."
A military investigation is underway into what caused the crash of the aircraft, which was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 at Naval Air Station North Island. Navy officials said only that it "was operating on deck before crashing into the sea."
A U.S. Navy helicopter with the USS Abraham Lincoln crashed about 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego while "conducting routine flight operations," at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, according to officials.
Five crew members were unaccounted for during the crash which prompted an immediate search and rescue mission with the Navy and Coast Guard that went on for multiple days.
On Wednesday, the navy released details that the aircraft was operating on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln before crashing into the sea.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet reported that one person was rescued Tuesday night. The rescued sailor and two other crew members who were hurt in the accident while engaging in duties aboard the San Diego-based aircraft carrier were taken ashore for medical care in stable condition. Three other personnel suffered minor injuries on the ship and remained aboard, officials said.
While the investigation is underway as to what caused the crash, comments have flooded the USS Abraham Lincoln's page on Facebook.