5 Marines confirmed dead after helicopter crashed in Southern California

Tragically, the five Marines who were on board a helicopter that crashed in a remote, snow-covered area on Tuesday night have been confirmed deceased, according to a spokesperson from the US military.

A CH-53E helicopter was discovered in the vicinity of Pine Valley, California, within the Cleveland National Forest. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

5 Marines confirmed dead after helicopter crashPhoto byKTVQ

A group of Marines were aboard a CH-53E Super Stallion on a training flight on Tuesday night. The flight was scheduled to go from Creech Air Force base near Las Vegas to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. However, the Marines were later reported as overdue, according to a statement from a Marine Corps unit on Wednesday.

A helicopter was discovered by civil authorities in Pine Valley, a mountainous area approximately 30 miles east of the San Diego station, according to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The discovery took place around 9 a.m. PT on Wednesday. The status of the helicopter remains undisclosed at this time.

According to the US Navy, the CH-53E is a heavy-lift helicopter capable of transporting troops, equipment, and up to 16 tons of cargo. According to Marine Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon, the individuals on board the craft are members of Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16.

Strong winds were reported Tuesday evening near Pine Valley, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph. It is expected that wind speeds were even stronger at higher elevations. A significant weather system moved through the region overnight, bringing a substantial amount of precipitation. Radar data shows that between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday, there was rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations.

The aircraft's final signal was registered at 11:20 p.m. On Wednesday, Mike Cornette, a spokesperson for Cal Fire San Diego, informed CNN. Super Stallion helicopters have been involved in a number of accidents over the past decade, with at least two of them resulting in fatalities.

During a night training exercise off Hawaii in 2016, a tragic incident occurred when two CH-53E helicopters collided, resulting in the loss of 12 Marines. After thorough investigation, military officials determined that the crash was caused by pilot error. In a tragic incident near El Centro, California, a Super Stallion crashed during a training mission, resulting in the loss of four crew members' lives. This devastating event occurred two years after the initial incident.

A remarkable event unfolded at sea following a training exercise in Djibouti: In 2014, a CH-53E helicopter crashed while attempting to land on an amphibious transport dock at sea. Miraculously, all 25 Marines and Navy sailors on board survived the incident.

The source: accuweather