Rescue crews searching for helicopter with 5 Marines missing en route from Las Vegas area to San Diego
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/us/missi ... index.html
Rescue crews are searching a remote, snow-covered area of Southern California after a military helicopter with five Marines onboard was “reported overdue” en route from a base near Las Vegas to one in San Diego, according to the US Marine Corps and Cal Fire.
“The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Feb. 6, 2024, when the aircraft was reported overdue,” Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said.
“The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol.”
The Marines are assigned to Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, according to Leguizamon. The CH-53E is a heavy-lift helicopter that is used to move troops and equipment and can carry as much as 16 tons of cargo, according to the US Navy.
CORONADO, Calif — A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed with six people inside into the San Diego Bay Thursday night, naval officials said.
Winds were gusting up to 20 mph Tuesday evening near Pine Valley, California – the nearest weather observation site, some 40 miles east of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Winds were likely stronger at higher elevations.
Radar indicates a heavy band of precipitation swept through the area between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., with rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations.
Among those searching for the lost helicopter are California firefighters, Cal Fire San Diego spokesperson Mike Cornette told CNN.
The agency deployed three fire engines and an ambulance after getting its first report about the aircraft at 2:20 a.m., Cornette said, noting the last ping from it was recorded at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday.
Responders searched in Lake Morena, near a trailhead in the Cleveland National Forest but were hampered by “heavy snow and winter conditions,” forcing them to pull back, he said.
“Now that we’re getting daylight, we’re going to reengage,” Cornette told CNN.
Super Stallion helicopters have been involved in several wrecks over the past decade, at least two of them fatal.
In 2016, 12 Marines were killed when two CH-53E helicopters collided during a night training exercise off Hawaii — a crash military investigators attributed to pilot error. Two years later, four crew members were killed when a Super Stallion crashed during a training mission near El Centro, California.
The outcome of another incident was considered a “miracle at sea:” 25 Marines and Navy sailors survived when a CH-53E crashed in 2014 as it tried to land on an amphibious transport dock at sea.
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Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion Missing in SoCal
Re: Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion Missing in SoCal
Missing helicopter carrying 5 Marines found in California, search and rescue underway
The Marines were flying from Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California on Tuesday “when the aircraft was reported overdue."
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/he ... rcna137686
A missing helicopter carrying five U.S. Marines has been found by civil authorities in Southern California, the U.S. Marine Corps announced Wednesday.
The search still continues for the Marines onboard the aircraft. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is managing search and rescue efforts near Pine Valley, California, in San Diego County.
The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter on Tuesday from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California "when the aircraft was reported overdue," the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.
The Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the statement said.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department and multiple federal, state and local agencies are assisting in locating the Marines.
Firefighters were also dispatched, but due to low visibility search efforts were pulled back, Cal Fire said.
The search comes amid a winter storm in San Diego that dumped heavy rain on the area and caused flash flood warnings. On Tuesday, parts of San Diego County were under a rare tornado warning.
The current snowy and rainy weather is hindering search efforts in the area. The San Diego Sheriff’s Team is using Jeeps to navigate the muddy terrain. Their aviation unit is on standby until safer flying conditions arise.
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The Marines were flying from Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California on Tuesday “when the aircraft was reported overdue."
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/he ... rcna137686
A missing helicopter carrying five U.S. Marines has been found by civil authorities in Southern California, the U.S. Marine Corps announced Wednesday.
The search still continues for the Marines onboard the aircraft. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is managing search and rescue efforts near Pine Valley, California, in San Diego County.
The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter on Tuesday from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California "when the aircraft was reported overdue," the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.
The Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the statement said.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department and multiple federal, state and local agencies are assisting in locating the Marines.
Firefighters were also dispatched, but due to low visibility search efforts were pulled back, Cal Fire said.
The search comes amid a winter storm in San Diego that dumped heavy rain on the area and caused flash flood warnings. On Tuesday, parts of San Diego County were under a rare tornado warning.
The current snowy and rainy weather is hindering search efforts in the area. The San Diego Sheriff’s Team is using Jeeps to navigate the muddy terrain. Their aviation unit is on standby until safer flying conditions arise.
PP
Re: Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion Missing in SoCal
5 Marines killed in helicopter crash are identified
They were Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27; Capt. Jack Casey, 26; and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/5- ... rcna137906
The U.S. Marine Corps on Friday released the identities of the five Marines who were killed after their helicopter crashed while flying from Nevada to California during a routine training mission.
They were Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho; Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire; and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan.
All were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. They were based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
The helicopter they were in, a CH-53E Super Stallion, went missing Tuesday and was found Wednesday in a remote area covered in snow in Southern California.
The crew was flying from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, north of Las Vegas, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, “when the aircraft was reported overdue,” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.
It’s unclear what caused the crash, which occurred as a winter storm brought days of heavy rain and snow to the San Diego area.
An investigation is ongoing.
Davis, a helicopter crew chief, enlisted in 2019 and was promoted last month to the rank of Lance Corporal, the Marine Corps said. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Langen, also a helicopter crew chief, enlisted in 2017. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Moulton, Casey and Nava were all pilots aboard the Super Stallion.
Moulton and Casey were both commissioned in 2019 and received the National Defense Service Medal. Nava was commissioned in 2017 and received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of HMH-361, said in a statement Friday.
“Our top priority now is supporting the families of our fallen heroes, and we ask for your respect and understanding as they grieve," Harvey added. "The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.”
The Marines have been using the powerful Super Stallion to transport heavy equipment, supplies and troops for more than 30 years, according to the Navy, which the Marine Corps is part of.
The aircraft has been previously scrutinized due to repeated mechanical failures. In 2014, a Super Stallion carrying 25 service members crashed due to the catastrophic failure of one of the aircraft’s engines, although all the passengers survived.
Then in 2018, four Marines were killed when their Super Stallion crashed during a training mission in Southern California. A Marine investigation found the crash was caused by a defective part, according to a lawsuit filed by the families of the Marines against the supplier and manufacturer of the part.
The case was settled two years ago, according to Dave Casey, the San Diego attorney representing the pilots. The settlement is confidential.
The five pilots and crew members in the latest crash were “serving a calling greater than self and were proud to do so,” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte said in a statement.
“We will forever be grateful for their call to duty and selfless service,” Borgschulte said.
In a statement Thursday, President Joe Biden called the Marines “our nation’s finest warriors.”
“Our service members represent the very best of our nation,” he said, “and these five Marines were no exception.”
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They were Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27; Capt. Jack Casey, 26; and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/5- ... rcna137906
The U.S. Marine Corps on Friday released the identities of the five Marines who were killed after their helicopter crashed while flying from Nevada to California during a routine training mission.
They were Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho; Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire; and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan.
All were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. They were based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
The helicopter they were in, a CH-53E Super Stallion, went missing Tuesday and was found Wednesday in a remote area covered in snow in Southern California.
The crew was flying from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, north of Las Vegas, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, “when the aircraft was reported overdue,” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.
It’s unclear what caused the crash, which occurred as a winter storm brought days of heavy rain and snow to the San Diego area.
An investigation is ongoing.
Davis, a helicopter crew chief, enlisted in 2019 and was promoted last month to the rank of Lance Corporal, the Marine Corps said. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Langen, also a helicopter crew chief, enlisted in 2017. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Moulton, Casey and Nava were all pilots aboard the Super Stallion.
Moulton and Casey were both commissioned in 2019 and received the National Defense Service Medal. Nava was commissioned in 2017 and received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of HMH-361, said in a statement Friday.
“Our top priority now is supporting the families of our fallen heroes, and we ask for your respect and understanding as they grieve," Harvey added. "The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.”
The Marines have been using the powerful Super Stallion to transport heavy equipment, supplies and troops for more than 30 years, according to the Navy, which the Marine Corps is part of.
The aircraft has been previously scrutinized due to repeated mechanical failures. In 2014, a Super Stallion carrying 25 service members crashed due to the catastrophic failure of one of the aircraft’s engines, although all the passengers survived.
Then in 2018, four Marines were killed when their Super Stallion crashed during a training mission in Southern California. A Marine investigation found the crash was caused by a defective part, according to a lawsuit filed by the families of the Marines against the supplier and manufacturer of the part.
The case was settled two years ago, according to Dave Casey, the San Diego attorney representing the pilots. The settlement is confidential.
The five pilots and crew members in the latest crash were “serving a calling greater than self and were proud to do so,” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte said in a statement.
“We will forever be grateful for their call to duty and selfless service,” Borgschulte said.
In a statement Thursday, President Joe Biden called the Marines “our nation’s finest warriors.”
“Our service members represent the very best of our nation,” he said, “and these five Marines were no exception.”
PP