A Marine three-star general pulled a Hawaii-based helicopter squadron from a spring deployment after two of its aircraft crashed off Oahu's coast in January, killing a dozen Marines.

Lt. Gen. John Toolan, the head of Marine Corps Forces Pacific, declined to send CH-53E Super Stallions from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 to Australia's Northern Territory as part of Marine Rotational Force–Darwin, said 1st Lt. Joseph Butterfield, a spokesman for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

HMH-463 was one of two Hawaii-based helo squadrons slated to send detachments to Australia for six months starting in April. Toolan decided to keep HMH-463 at home and send more helicopters from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 instead, Butterfield said.

The commanding officer of HMH-463 was fired three days before the Jan. 14 crash after senior officials determined he had failed to keep the unit operating at acceptable standards. The investigation into the accident remains under investigation.

Before the deadly crash, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 was one of two squadrons that were slated to take part in the latest rotation of rotation of Marine Rotational Force–Darwin. Currently, four UH-1Y Venom helicopters from HMLA-367 are supporting the Marines in Darwin, he said. Last year, four CH-53Es from HMH-463 took part in the rotation. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser first reported on Toolan's decision last month.