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By Alex, February 7, 2024
SAN DIEGO, CA - A massive search operation is underway in San Diego County after a US Navy helicopter with five Marines on board went missing early Wednesday morning, authorities said.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was conducting a routine training flight from Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas to the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar when it lost communication with the ground control around 2:20 a.m. local time, according to Cal Fire San Diego¹.
The helicopter was last seen north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Road, southeast of Descanso, a rural area covered in snow, making the search more challenging, officials said².
Cal Fire San Diego, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the US Forest Service, and the California Highway Patrol are assisting the US Navy and the Marine Corps in the search and rescue efforts, which involve helicopters, planes, and ground crews³.
The names and ranks of the missing Marines have not been released yet, pending notification of their families. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
The CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the US military, capable of carrying up to 55 passengers or 32,000 pounds of cargo⁴. It is mainly used for transporting troops, equipment, and supplies, as well as conducting combat search and rescue missions.
