5 U.S. Marines aboard a helicopter that went down throughout stormy climate within the mountains exterior San Diego are confirmed lifeless, a Marine commander mentioned Thursday.
It was the second deadly crash for Marines in Southern California involving a Sikorsky CH-53E Tremendous Stallion, a heavy carry helicopter, within the final six years. The Marines mentioned an investigation into the most recent crash is underway.
Authorities say the plane vanished late Tuesday whereas returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after a routine coaching mission to Creech Air Power Base in Indian Springs, Nev., northwest of Las Vegas. The helicopter was flying into treacherous climate in California, which had been inundated with three days of relentless rain.
“It’s with a heavy coronary heart and profound disappointment that I share the lack of 5 excellent Marines from 3d Marine Plane Wing and the ‘Flying Tigers,’” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, commander of third Marine Plane Wing, mentioned in an announcement.
The names of these killed is not going to be launched till 24 hours after subsequent of kin are notified, officers mentioned.
“To the households of our fallen Marines, we ship our deepest condolences and commit to making sure your help and care throughout this extremely troublesome time,” Borgschulte mentioned. “Although we perceive the inherent dangers of navy service, any lack of life is at all times troublesome.”
These aboard the flight have been assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Plane Group 16, in line with the Marines.
In an announcement, President Biden mentioned he and First Girl Jill Biden “prolong our deepest condolences to their households, their squadron, and the U.S. Marine Corps as we grieve the lack of 5 of our nation’s best warriors.” He additionally thanked the San Diego County Sheriff’s Division, the U.S. Air Power Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, and different federal, state, and native businesses for serving to within the search and restoration efforts.
“Our service members symbolize the easiest of our nation — and these 5 Marines have been no exception,” Biden mentioned. “Right this moment, as we mourn this profound loss, we honor their selfless service and supreme sacrifice — and reaffirm the sacred obligation we bear to all those that put on the uniform and their households.”
Because the Marines have been flying again to their base Tuesday night time, visibility was poor due to snow, rain and gusty winds, in line with meteorologist Philip Gonsalves with the Nationwide Climate Service in San Diego. These situations would have been in play for a lot of the night time and into the morning, Gonsalves mentioned.
The craft was found Wednesday morning close to Pine Valley, within the Cuyamaca Mountains an hour’s drive from San Diego. The Marines mentioned an effort to get well the stays of the 5 has begun.
The California Division of Forestry and Hearth Safety acquired phrase in regards to the lacking helicopter at 2:20 a.m. Wednesday and commenced the search within the space of Lake Morena, however their efforts have been hampered by heavy snow and dirt, officers mentioned.
In 2018, 4 Marines died in a helicopter crash 15 miles west of El Centro. The crew flew out of a base in Twentynine Palms as a part of a coaching train on April 3 on the identical sort of heavy-lift helicopter that was reported lacking Wednesday, in line with a information launch from the third Marine Plane Wing.
Two years after the crash, the households of the 4 Marines sued the producers who provided components to the navy. A Marine Corps investigation into the crash dominated out pilot error and pointed to a bypass valve as the basis explanation for the crash, the information outlet Marine Corps Occasions reported when the lawsuit was filed.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
