BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Marine helicopter located, search underway for 5 crew

  • The helicopter was en route to Miramar Air Station but didn't arrive
  • Search efforts are underway for five Marines who were on board
  • The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is leading the search

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

(NewsNation) — Five Marines are missing after a helicopter failed to make it to the Miramar Air Station.

The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed a search and rescue mission has begun in coordination with civil authorities. Here’s what we know so far.

The flight

The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter on a routine training flight from Creech Air Force Base, located near Las Vegas, to Miramar, but the helicopter was reported overdue on Feb. 6, 2024 around 1:00 a.m.

Cal Fire reported a call coming in around 2:20 a.m. regarding the missing aircraft. Between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. National Weather Service radar showed turbulent weather rolling into the San Diego area.

Search efforts

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Civil Air Patrol and Cal Fire are assisting with the search and a command post has been set up off Interstate 8 near Pine Valley. The search is complicated by snow in the area.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed the helicopter had been located by civil authorities at 9:08 a.m. Pacific time in Pine Valley, California.

The helicopter

The Super Stallion can carry up to 55 people and is primarily used to transport heavy equipment and supplies during on-shore and amphibious assault missions. The craft can lift up to 16 tons and can be refueled mid-flight.

CH-53E helicopters have been involved in other incidents. In 2014, CH-53E crashed while trying to land on a transport dock at sea, however, all 25 people on board survived. In 2016, two CH-53Es crashed into each other during a training exercise near Hawaii, killing 12 Marines. In 2018, a CH-53E crashed during training in California, killing four Marines.

The crew

The Marines are with the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, attached to Marine Aircraft Group 16 with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

Military

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

66°F Sunny Feels like 66°
Wind
7 mph SW
Humidity
47%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
50°F Partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wind
6 mph NNW
Precip
10%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous