Missing helicopter with 5 Marines on board found, search for aircrew continues

First responders have located the military helicopter which went missing on a flight from Nevada to California on Tuesday, but the five US Marines on board remain missing.

The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was located in Pine Valley, Calif. at about 9 a.m. local time by using ground and air crews, according to Marine officials.

First responders launched the search mission after the helicopter went missing around 3 a.m. Wednesday on a flight from Nevada to California.

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The helicopter departed Creech Air Force Base in Nevada en route to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego on Tuesday night.

The Marines said they are in contact with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and are coordinating search efforts.

Cal Fire and San Diego County Firefighters are also assisting the search in Pine Valley, which is difficult to access because the area is covered in snow from the recent storms that pummeled Southern California.

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“The aircraft was located by civil authorities in Pine Valley, California at 9:08 AM PST February 7, 2024,” US Marines officials said in a statement.

“The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is managing search and rescue efforts through the Wing Operations Command Center and 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.”

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The five missing marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Office attempted to send a helicopter to begin the search immediately, but the aircraft was called off due to the “atmospheric river” storm hitting the area , according to ABC News.

The incident comes roughly two months after a U.S. Air Force Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan in November.

All eight crew members aboard the craft were killed in that incident.

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