In a serious incident off the Atlantic coast near Jacksonville, Florida, thirty sailors and Marines sustained injuries on Wednesday when two landing hovercrafts collided during a training exercise. The vessels involved were Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) from the USS Wasp, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, and the USS New York, a transport dock vessel, as reported by the Navy.
The sailors, part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, and Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were engaged in routine training maneuvers when the accident occurred. Following the incident, the Western Journal contacted the U.S. Navy for further details on the situation.
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Cmdr. Lara Bollinger, a Navy public information officer, confirmed the collision but noted that both LCACs remained afloat and have since returned to their respective ships. She stated that the cause of the collision is still under investigation and more details will be released as they become available.
Regarding the injuries, Cmdr. Bollinger reported that all thirty personnel involved received immediate medical attention. “Most injuries were considered minor, and those personnel returned to full duty,” she mentioned. However, five of the servicemembers needed advanced medical care and were airlifted to Savannah Memorial University Medical Center in Southern Georgia. Of these, four have since been treated and released, with one still receiving care in Savannah.
