Lompoc Sailor Dies in Navy Chopper Crash

A Lompoc Navy pilot was one of two pilots killed after a helicopter crash in the Red Sea off the coast of Bahrain.

Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones, 35, from Lompoc was on active duty with the Navy in the Red Sea.

Jones was on a Navy Knighthawk helicopter at the time of the accident. Family members in Lompoc tell NewsChannel 3 a rogue wave washed the helicopter into the Red Sea while attempting a landing on the deck of the USS William P. Lawrence, a guided missile destroyer. The accident happened in the afternoon hours of September 22 off the coast of Bahrain.

A search for both men went on for several hours after the crash, without success.

Jones was based in Coronado, Calif. He is survived by his wife and a 6-year-old son. Jones also had a 3 month-old-son born while he was on active duty.

The crash was not due to hostile activity.

A memorial service aboard USS Nimitz is being planned.