Military helicopter with 5 Marines on board goes missing en route to California

• A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, carrying five Marines, was reported overdue on its flight from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Feb. 6, 2024.
• The aircraft was assigned to Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Search and Rescue Efforts:

• The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol.
• Cal Fire San Diego also deployed resources, including three fire engines and an ambulance, to assist in the search.
• Initial search efforts were hampered by heavy snow and winter conditions, but responders plan to reengage with daylight.

Weather Conditions:

• Winds were gusting up to 20 mph near Pine Valley, California, with heavier precipitation recorded in the area between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Previous Incidents Involving CH-53E Super Stallion:

• The CH-53E Super Stallion has been involved in several wrecks over the past decade, including two fatal accidents.
• In 2016, 12 Marines were killed in a collision between two CH-53E helicopters off Hawaii.
• In 2018, four crew members were killed in a Super Stallion crash during a training mission near El Centro, California.
• A CH-53E crash in 2014 resulted in 25 Marines and Navy sailors surviving after the aircraft attempted to land on an amphibious transport dock at sea.

Conclusion:

• The search for the missing helicopter and its crew is ongoing, with multiple agencies involved in rescue efforts.
• The history of incidents involving the CH-53E Super Stallion underscores the risks associated with military aviation operations.