By Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube, NBC News
Seven Marines died when their helicopters collided in midair Wednesday night around the Arizona-California border, defense officials told NBC News. There were no survivors.
The Marines, from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based in Miramar in Southern California, were conducting a routine training exercise at about 8 p.m. local time when their Cobra and Huey helicopters collided.
The cause of the crash, which occurred in a remote part of the Yuma Training Range Complex, is under investigation, the Marines said in a statement.
Two Marines were on one of the helicopters, while five were on the other, Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger told KYMA-TV.
The identities of the Marines killed have not been released pending formal notification of next of kin.
