A helicopter carrying five United States Marines that was scheduled to land in San Diego has gone missing.
Search and rescue teams are looking for the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter after it was reported “overdue” on the evening of Feb. 6. It is believed to have gone down around 2:30 a.m. near the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego on Feb. 7.
The helicopter departed from the Creek Airforce Base just North of Las Vegas and headed to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department deployed its own helicopter to search for the Marines after receiving a call just over 1:20 A.M.
Lt. Matthew Carpenter, a spokesman for the department, said crews were still fanning Pine Valley which has been hit by a heavy winter storm.
“Carpenter described the search area as ‘very mountainy’ and said weather was also complicating the efforts,” reports The Hill. “Police are not flying helicopters but are sending ground teams out to search for the missing marines.”
CAL FIRE / San Diego County First reported that multiple agencies are taking part in the search. Initially, first responders went to the helicopter’s last known coordinates but found nothing.
“We made access to the coordinates but it was snowing outside and difficult to access,” Cal Fire spokesperson Mike Cornette told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “We searched around different locations there and went as far as we could on different roads, but it was really snowy and wet and muddy. Luckily nothing got stuck.”
Cornette added that there are plans to launch Border Patrol drones while search and rescue teams continue to comb on foot, ATVs, and UTVs.
The marines involved are reportedly part of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
The Super Stallion is described as a heavy-lift helicopter.
“It is capable of rapidly transporting troops and equipment from ship-to-shore: launching amphibious assaults, facilitating logistics and maintenance, providing sustainment and supplies, and equipping the warfighter for mission success,” reports NavAir. “The powerful Super Stallion is capable of lifting heavy military equipment, yet still compact enough to fit onboard an amphibious warfare ship where it can take off carrying 16 tons of cargo and deliver it 50 miles away before returning to base.”
The helicopter is approximately 99 feet in length and just over 28 feet in height. It was first introduced in 1981 and is used by both American and Japanese military forces.
