Investigations revealed chaotic scene inside CH-53E when it crashed in Gulf of Aden last year

A CH-53E from VMM-263 (Reinforced) missed the flight deck of USS Mesa Verde while descending to land and crashed into waters off the coast of Djibouti on Sept. 1, 2014. Documents released through the Freedom of Information Act revealed the chaotic scene inside the rotorcraft as it started sinking.

By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelvin Edwards [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A decision not to strap down baggage inside lead to luggage being tossed around the cabin as the aircraft rolled to the right in the water. Marines were trapped under the litter and many struggled to exit as water rushed in.

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