VIDEO: How 5 US servicemen lost lives in Mediterranean helicopter crash?

After a military helicopter went down over the eastern Mediterranean Sea while on a training operation, five US service members lost their lives, as per the statements made by US officials on Sunday.

All five crew members perished when the aircraft went down "during a routine air refuelling mission as part of military training," according to the military's European Command.

When the accident was originally reported by the military on Saturday, it was said that no hostile action was suspected and that the cause was being looked into. "Search and rescue efforts began immediately, including nearby US military aircraft and ships," the statement stated on Sunday.

"We mourn the tragic loss of five US service members during a training accident in the Mediterranean Sea early Saturday morning," stated US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement.

“While we continue to gather more information about this deadly crash, it is another stark reminder that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” he said.

According to European Command, the identities of the crew members will not be released for 24 hours until the relatives of the deceased have been contacted, both as a show of respect for the families of the service personnel and in accordance with Department of Defence protocol.

The military service the aircraft belongs to wasn't immediately apparent. In addition to the Air Force sending more squadrons to the area, the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier has been conducting operations in the eastern Mediterranean while carrying a variety of aircraft.