31.   Then they watched helplessly as two of the four helicopters were shot down, moments apart.

32.   Wearing night-vision goggles, the crew members aboard the two helicopters were engaged in routine night training at the time.

33.   In addition to the two helicopters, she added, a mobile air operations team, possibly to be based in Maputo, was also being sent in.

34.   A Pentagon official said the Marines were uncertain how many people were aboard the two helicopters.

35.   Acting Defence Minister Abang Abu Bakar said the investigation board probing the accident found the two helicopters crashed separately, ruling out a mid-air collision.

36.   Everts said the rescue was completed in fine weather and the two helicopters were expected to return to their base in Durban later Monday.

37.   The other helicopter remained overhead while other US aircraft were sent to the area to search for survivors, he said.

38.   The spokeswoman said she had no details on what crew aboard the other helicopter saw from the crash.

39.   The rotor masts from the two helicopters are still visible above the surf just off the island, Chavez said.

40.   The two helicopters are now in Al-Arish, an Egyptian town at the border with Gaza.