U.S. Air Force helicopter crashes in England; four dead

The U.S. Air Force says one of its Pave Hawk helicopters has crashed in eastern England.

A U.S. defense official said that four U.S. Air Force crew members were killed in the crash.

"A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed at about 6 p.m. today near Salthouse on the Norfolk coast," the Royal Air Force station in Lakenheath, Suffolk County, said in a statement. "The aircraft, assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, was on a low-level training mission when the crash occurred."

The Royal Air Force station said that the helicopter was based there.

Police in Norfolk County cordoned off the area where the crash occurred, and several vehicles from the fire brigade, coast guard and police are at the scene

 "An assessment is still being carried out around the munitions which may be on the aircraft and advice from the military is being taken," the police force said. It added that family members will be notified before details on the victims can be released.   

Pave Hawks are often used for combat search and rescue missions, mainly to recover downed air crew members or other personnel during war.