A US military helicopter carrying five Marines on a journey from Nevada to California disappeared on Tuesday, leading first responders to initiate a search and rescue mission.
A spokeswoman for the US Marine Corps said on Wednesday that the service is hunting for a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that was “reported overdue” while moving from a base near Las Vegas to one in San Diego.
“The US Marine Corps is looking for five US Marines assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,” Marine Corps Air Station Miramar informed Fox News. “The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Feb. 6, 2024, when the aircraft was reported overdue.”
“The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing coordinates search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol. The most up-to-date information will be released as it becomes available,” the statement continued.
A search and rescue operation was initiated
Early Wednesday morning, local first responders were contacted about the event. The “atmospheric river” storm that was hitting the area prompted the San Diego Sheriff’s Office to postpone dispatching a helicopter in an attempt to begin the search immediately.
When California firefighters arrived at the last known location of the CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft over the Cleveland National Forest, they found nothing.
The CH-53E Super Stallion, which entered active service in 1981, is considered the backbone of Marine Corps aviation and is primarily employed for transport operations. It can take up to 37 passengers.
A US CV-22 Osprey aircraft crashed near Japan, killing eight
The incident occurred around two months after an Osprey aircraft from the United States Air Force crashed off the coast of Japan in December. The tragedy claimed the lives of all eight crew members.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and peers of all who this mishap and loss of life has impacted,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, in a statement. “In times like these, when service to our country is not only a personal commitment, but also a legacy woven into the fabric of our family, the depth of grief is immeasurable.
These eight Airmen’s heroic service to this great nation will never be forgotten, and they are now among the giants who form our history.”
