The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) announced Wednesday that search and rescue teams are searching for a missing military helicopter carrying five Marines.
The helicopter in question is the CH-53E Super Stallion. I left The plane left Creech Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday night and was heading to Miramar, California, near San Diego, before going missing, ABC News reported. report.
The helicopter and crew were “reported past their estimated arrival time” at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar late that night, and the Marine Corps requested rescue from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDCSD) and Civil Air Patrol.
According to the sheriff’s office, they received a call at 1:50 a.m. and sent their own helicopter to search, but they were unable to reach the scene due to the storm.
SDCSD said it is currently sending off-road vehicles to assist in the search through difficult terrain.
Firefighters are also assisting in search efforts “in the area north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road southeast of Pine Valley,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s San Diego division said in a statement.
.@calfiresandiego Firefighters are assisting in search efforts for a military helicopter reported missing in an area north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road southeast of Pine Valley. Multiple agencies are searching the area, which is covered in snow and difficult to access. pic.twitter.com/Y3oxNz75Pg
— CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) February 7, 2024
“Multiple agencies are searching areas that are snow-covered and difficult to access,” the ministry wrote on Wednesday morning.
After nothing was found in the forest near the U.S.-Mexico border, additional public agencies were called to the scene, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Border Patrol, and California Civil Air Patrol.
The five missing Marines were members of the 361st Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, 16th Marine Aircraft Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Corps. Said CBS News.
