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Navy SEAL Dead, Another Injured After Arizona Parachuting Accident

Navy SEAL Dead After Parachuting Accident
AP/The Huffington Post
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UPDATE: NBC News is reporting that the Navy SEAL killed in the incident is from SEAL TEAM 6, the group that carried out the killing of Osama bin Laden. More from the Associated Press below:

TUCSON, Ariz. -- One of two Navy SEALs injured during parachute training in southern Arizona has died while the other man remained hospitalized Friday, authorities said.

The names of the two SEALs, both from an East Coast Naval Special Warfare Unit, weren't immediately released and military officials said the accident was under investigation.

U.S. Special Operations Command spokesman Kenneth McGraw said the SEALs were practicing "routine military free-fall training" when the accident occurred about 12:30 p.m. MST Thursday.

Pinal County Sheriff's officials said the injured men collided in mid-air and landed in separate areas.

The Department of Defense said an E-8-Senior Chief was taken to University of Arizona Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The other SEAL - an E-6 Petty Officer First Class - was in stable condition at the same Tucson hospital, military officials said Friday.

The command has a parachute testing and training facility at the Pinal Airpark in Marana, according to McGraw, who added that training programs are operated there year-round.

The area is in rugged desert terrain northeast of Tucson.

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Michelle Obama Visits Walter Reed
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US First Lady Michelle Obama and First Family dog Bo arrive to participate in a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of12)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks as she participates in a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(03 of12)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama (C-back) speaks with the Monte Family as First Family dog Bo wonders under a table during pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(04 of12)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama carries a basket of cokies as she arrives to participate in a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of12)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks with the Monte Family as she a participate in a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of12)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama and First Family dog Bo arrive to participate in a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of12)
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First Lady Michelle Obama looks at four-week-old Shawn Wittaker as he is held by his mother Amanda Wittaker during a visit to the Fisher House, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children, Wednesday, March 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
(08 of12)
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First lady Michelle Obama shows off the Obama family dog, Bo, during her visit to the Fisher House, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, March 20, 2013, for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
(09 of12)
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First lady Michelle Obama talks with Jorge Ortiz during her visit to the Fisher House, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, March 20, 2013, for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
(10 of12)
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First lady Michelle Obama shares a laugh with, from left, Sanae Bright, Kerry Bright and Ashanti Ferguson, during her visit to the Fisher House, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, March 20, 2013, for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
(11 of12)
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First lady Michelle Obama visits with, from left, Ashanti Ferguson and Samuel and Simeon Bright at the Fisher House, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, March 20, 2013, for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
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Anthony Robinson gets close to the Obama family dog, Bo, as first lady Michelle Obama watches during her visit to the Fisher House, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, March 20, 2013, for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
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