A US Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was reported missing during a flight to California, prompting an ongoing search operation. bbc reported.
The helicopter declared “delayed” by Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego had five Marines on board and was en route from an air base near Las Vegas. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is assisting in the search for the aircraft.
The missing Marines are affiliated with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based in Miramar.
Fire crews began search efforts around Morina Lake, California, at 2:20 a.m. local time on Wednesday, facing challenges due to heavy snowfall and winter conditions exacerbated by an ongoing winter storm in the region.
A fixture in Marine Corps aviation since 1981, the CH-53E Super Stallion serves primarily a transport role and can accommodate up to 37 passengers. In addition to transporting troops, it has combat and supply transport capabilities and is used by the US and Japanese navies.
This incident follows a previous accident in August, where a Marine Corps pilot lost his life in the crash of an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
The CH-53E Super Stallion was involved in several serious accidents, including a 2018 crash in California that resulted in four deaths during a training mission, and a collision over the Pacific near Oahu in Hawaii in January 2016, which resulted in the loss of 12 marines. lives.
