Rescue crews are contending with severe snow conditions on Wednesday as they endeavor to reach a Marine Corps helicopter carrying five troops that crashed in the mountains near San Diego.
The five Marines were aboard a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that had taken off from Creech Air Force Base, situated northwest of Las Vegas, where they were engaged in a routine training flight, as per defense officials. They were en route back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego when the aircraft was reported overdue.
A multi-state search was initiated, and the helicopter was eventually located by civil authorities in Pine Valley, California, approximately 45 miles east of San Diego, shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing disclosed in a statement that it is coordinating search-and-rescue efforts and utilizing both ground and aviation assets in collaboration with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and various federal, state, and local agencies.
Adverse weather conditions, compounded by heavy snowfall from the recent historic storm in California, have presented significant challenges for rescue teams attempting to access the crash site, as reported by Cal Fire and the San Diego County Fire Protection District.
The last communication with the helicopter occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Capt. Mike Cornette, who informed CBS 8 news that the location was determined based on a “ping” received by a Cal Fire dispatch center.
The five Marines belong to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Miramar, according to a statement from the Marine Corps. The identities of the Marines and the condition of the helicopter were not immediately disclosed.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation, as confirmed by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday.
“We’re closely monitoring this situation, and our primary concern is for the best possible outcome,” stated National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
The missing military helicopter was reported amid heavy precipitation and snowfall. The exact departure time from Nevada and the scheduled arrival time in San Diego were not immediately known.
The incident transpired amidst one of the wettest storms recorded in Southern California history, with intermittent bursts of rainfall throughout the night accompanied by heavy snowfall in the mountainous regions.
Cal Fire indicated that the helicopter was reported missing in the vicinity north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road, southeast of Pine Valley, within the Cuyamaca Mountains. Pine Valley is situated near the Cleveland National Forest, characterized by steep, rocky terrain with limited trails.
“Multiple agencies are conducting search operations in the snow-covered area, which is challenging to access,” stated Cal Fire and the San Diego County Fire Protection District on X, formerly Twitter.
The CH-53E Super Stallion, measuring approximately 99 feet in length, is classified as a “heavy-lift helicopter” capable of transporting troops, equipment, and supplies from ships to shore and facilitating amphibious assaults, as outlined on the Naval Air Systems Command website. The aircraft is designed to withstand harsh conditions, including traversing rugged terrain in adverse weather conditions.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced on X that it received notification about the missing military helicopter around 1 a.m. on Wednesday and subsequently initiated ground search operations several hours later. The department is collaborating with the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) Unit, Cal Fire San Diego, and the U.S. Forest Service in the search effort, utilizing 4×4 Jeeps to navigate the challenging terrain.
Cornette mentioned that officials are employing drones to aid in the search and are endeavoring to deploy additional aircraft; however, visibility remains severely limited due to heavy snowfall.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Casey Oswant, the region experienced light rain and wind between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., with snowfall commencing around 6 a.m. and accumulating 6 to 8 inches within hours at a nearby weather station.
The National Weather Service indicated on X that more rain and mountain snow are anticipated in Southern California following a brief respite from the record-setting storm system that battered the region.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the aircraft or the missing Marines to contact San Diego authorities.
In a recent incident in Southern California, a Navy helicopter crashed into the ocean off Coronado, California, last month. Fortunately, all six occupants were rescued by federal firefighters, as confirmed by military officials.
In 2018, another CH-53E Super Stallion crashed near El Centro, California, near the U.S.-Mexico border during a training exercise, resulting in the presumed death of all four crew members, as reported by the military.
The situation regarding the missing military helicopter and its occupants in Southern California continues to develop as rescue efforts persist.