Navy SEAL killed in parachute accident
Virginia-based Navy SEALs in a training exercise. Photo: AP
A Navy SEAL was killed and another injured during a parachute training accident in southern Arizona on Thursday.
Kenneth McGraw, spokesman for the US Special Operations Command, said the SEALs were practicing "routine military free-fall training" when the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time. The incident is currently under investigation.
The two men collided in mid-air and landed in separate areas.
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The names of the two SEALs — an E-8-Senior Chief and an E-6 Petty Officer First Class with the elite SEAL TEAM 6 — weren't immediately released.
Both SEALs were transported to the University of Arizona Medical Center, where one was pronounced dead and the other remains hospitalized.
Members of SEAL TEAM 6 carried out the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. All SEAL team members receive extensive parachute training, which is often needed for hostage rescue and anti-terror operations.
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