Search efforts are underway for a missing Marine Corps CH-53E helicopter with five Marines aboard, Corps officials said Wednesday.
The aircraft is assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, according to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
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The helicopter was flying from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, on Tuesday when it was reported overdue, the wing said in a statement. That route flies over rugged mountains.
“The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol,” the statement says.
The commander of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit recently told reporters that his unit was relying more on CH-53s and other heavy lift helicopters to conduct operations after the Marine Corps and Air Force grounded all V-22 Ospreys in response to a fatal Air Force Osprey crash in December that killed all eight crew members aboard the aircraft.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
