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Over 30 Sailors, Marines Injured in Training Incident off Florida Coast.
A collision injured multiple service members
Photo by Lilith Johnson
Thirty sailors and Marines sustained injuries during a training incident involving two landing craft off the coast of Florida, the Navy reported Wednesday.
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According to the Navy’s statement, five sailors were medically evacuated to a hospital in Georgia for additional care, with four of them being discharged after treatment. One sailor remains hospitalized.
Details regarding the nature of the incident and the specific training operation were not disclosed by the Navy, which confirmed it was part of a training exercise. Several troops with minor injuries received treatment aboard the USS Wasp and USS New York, both part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group.
The mishap, involving two landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vessels, is currently under investigation, with no further information provided regarding the injuries sustained.
The Marines affected are members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), part of the Wasp ARG, comprising the USS Wasp, USS New York, and USS Oak Hill. The group had been conducting training exercises off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.
Before this incident, the Wasp had previously encountered issues off the coast of Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, as reported in March. However, the Navy did not comment on the specifics of the ship’s status or the cause of its early return.
Tragically, the 24th MEU experienced another loss last month when Marine Sgt. Colin Arslanbas died in a parachute mishap during pre-deployment training. Sgt. Arslanbas, a reconnaissance Marine and member of the Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF), had recently been promoted to sergeant before his untimely death.
The Incident underscores the risks involved in military training and operations, with investigations ongoing to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
