A US Marine Corps (USMC)-operated Bell AH-1Z Viper has sustained substantial damage after it crashed in a field following a mishap near Joint Base (JB) McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Wrightstown, New Jersey, on January 6.
The attack helicopter involved was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 (HMLA-773) ‘Red Dogs’ – a component of Marine Corps Reserve command’s Marine Aircraft Group 49 (MAG-49) and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). It was conducting a local sortie from its home base, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, when it suffered a mishap causing it to crash in a nearby field at approximately 1530hrs (local time).
![USMC HMLA-773 AH-1Z Viper 21-07-21 [USMC/Lance Cpl Joshua Sechser]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/styles/article_body/public/inline-images/6751044.jpg?itok=y27htP4z)
ICYMI
— Umair Aslam (@Defense785) January 8, 2022
An AH-1Z “Viper” gunship attack helicopter assigned to US Marine crashed on Thursday, near New Jersey Base. As per initial details, two pilot were slightly injured in the crash. This mishap was happened near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst pic.twitter.com/hnLBMCFD4h
Taking to social media, the Marine Corps Reserve command confirmed that there were no fatalities, and no damage was caused to civilian infrastructure as a result of the incident. The service states that “two personnel were on board and were transferred to nearby medical facilities.” It added that the two crew members were in a stable condition.
This cause of this incident is currently under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
