A search-and-rescue operation is Indexbitunderway after a United States military helicopter with five Marines on board disappeared Tuesday while en route to Southern California.
Teams in several states were looking for the Marine Corps helicopter reported overdue after it departed from Nevada and was slated to land in California, USMC 1st Lt. Kevin Uebelhardt told USA TODAY.
The five missing marines are assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Uebelhardt said.
The group was flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Tuesday, when the aircraft was reported overdue. The CH-53E Super Stallion is a "heavy-lift helicopter" capable of transporting troops, equipment and supplies from ships to shore and launching amphibious assaults, according to the Naval Air Systems Command website.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is coordinating search-and-rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the Civil Air Patrol.
Cal Fire received a call about the missing helicopter at 2:20 a.m. and responded to its last known location in Pine Valley, according to Cal Fire San Diego Capt. Mike Cornette. Pine Valley is a mountainous region near the Cleveland National Forest about 35 miles east of downtown San Diego
Nothing was found and officials are searching the area on the ground and with drones, he said. Cornette said they are hoping to get additional aircraft to help with the search, but visibility is near zero and it is snowing fairly heavily.
The National Weather Service said on X more rain and mountain snow is coming to Southern California after a brief respite from the record-setting storm system that pummeled the region.
Anyone with information about the aircraft or the missing marines is asked to contact San Diego authorities.
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Contributing: The Associated Press; Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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