An unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter crashed into the side of the littoral combat ship USS Charleston during a training exercise in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday afternoon.
No one was injured, and the Charleston continued to safely operate after the incident, which occurred at 9:40 a.m. and involved the vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, military officials said.
The Fire Scout — 31.7 feet long and nearly 10 feet tall — fell into the sea and was not recovered. The incident damaged a safety net on the ship and struck the hull. Damage to the ship was being assessed, but appears limited to an area above the waterline, Navy officials said.
The cause of the mishap is under investigation.
The Fire Scout was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 based out of Naval Air Station North Island, located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula. It was assigned to Charleston as part of its current mission.
