CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy says it will conduct a demolition operation to destroy two missiles dropped in about 60 feet of water off the Southern California coast.
The Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles were jettisoned from a helicopter taking them to the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard on Aug. 30 and fell 400 feet to the water about 1.7 miles from Camp Pendleton, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
As the missiles were being transported to the ship, they began to "swing excessively," threatening the safety of the helicopter and its crew, the Navy said.
The Coast Guard will enforce a 2,000-yard safety zone and keep civilian craft clear before the demolition next week,.
Experts at the Naval Air Systems Command have decided it is not safe to try to retrieve the missiles and move them ashore, the Navy said.
