The five US Marines whose military chopper was discovered this week in Southern California’s Pine Valley after it failed to arrive at a San Diego base on time are still being sought after.
The Marines were traveling from Creech Air Force Base, close to Las Vegas, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on a training flight on Tuesday night when they were eventually “reported overdue,” a Marine Corps unit said on Wednesday.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing claimed that civil officials discovered the helicopter on Wednesday at approximately nine in the morning PT in Pine Valley, a mountainous region about thirty miles east of the San Diego station. The helicopter’s state was not immediately made public.
Search for Aircrew
According to the US Navy, the CH-53E is a heavy-lift helicopter that can transport personnel and gear as well as up to 16 tons of cargo. According to Marine Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon, the Marines on board the helicopter are part of Marine Aircraft Group 16’s Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361.
In cooperation with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and other organizations, the Marine Corps was in charge of overseeing the crew’s search, according to the Marines. Tuesday night, winds were gusting up to 20 mph close to Pine Valley; they were probably greater higher up.
According to radar, a thick band of precipitation with rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations moved through the region between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
US Militaries identifies all crew members
Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, stated on Wednesday that President Biden has been informed of the circumstances. White House spokesperson John Kirby noted that the administration is “watching this closely.”
“Clearly, we’re hoping for the best in this situation,” Kirby said reporters.
The event occurred about two months after an Osprey aircraft from the United States Air Force crashed off the coast of Japan in December. The disaster claimed the lives of all eight crew members on board the ship.
