The crash site of a missing Marine helicopter in the California mountains has been successfully identified, according to US military officials.
Uncertainty shrouds the fate of the five Marines traveling on board, but officials assured the public of the ongoing rescue operation after they were deemed “reported overdue.”
In the early hours of Wednesday, the Marines, on a training flight to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, encountered a crash with their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, just 45 miles away from the planned landing.
Marine Corps officials revealed that the unaccounted-for Marines were part of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, an integral unit of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in Miramar.
The missing aircraft was brought to the attention of fire crews at 02:20 local time on Wednesday (10:20 GMT), leading them to swiftly head to the area near Lake Morena, California. Several hours later, the aircraft was located, merely less than 15 miles away (24km) in Pine Valley.
Rescuers were “using ground and aviation assets to locate the aircrew in coordination with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and multiple federal, state and local agencies”, The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.
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Hindered by intense wintry conditions, particularly heavy snowfall, officials noted that the search operations have encountered difficulties. The incident coincided with a winter storm affecting the area, bringing significant rainfall and accumulating several inches of snow in the mountainous terrain.
First commissioned for active duty in 1981, the CH-53E Super Stallion has emerged as a pivotal asset in Marine Corps aviation, commonly utilized for transport purposes and featuring a standard configuration capable of carrying up to 37 passengers.
Apart from its troop-carrying capabilities, this helicopter, shared by the US and Japanese navies, is adaptable for combat scenarios and expedient supply transport.
The safety track record of Marine Corps Super Stallions is characterized by a checkered history, with the helicopter being involved in multiple serious accidents in recent times.
Tragedy struck in April 2018 when four troops lost their lives in a Super Stallion crash during a training mission near El Centro, California. Additionally, in January 2016, a separate incident claimed the lives of 12 Marines as two Super Stallions collided over the Pacific near Oahu, Hawaii.
The California mountains have experienced a series of recent accidents, including the loss of a Marine Corps pilot in August, whose F/A-18 Hornet jet crashed in close proximity to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.