Military helicopter with five on board disappears on flight to California base
A military helicopter said to be carrying five US Marines has gone missing during a flight to California.
Search and rescue crews have launched a hunt for the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter after it was "reported overdue" to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Tuesday night. The aircraft was due to land at Miramar, in the San Diego area, having left the Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas earlier in the day.
The Marines have now called in help from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department as well as Civil Air Patrol. According to the sheriff's department, they received a call at around 1.50am regarding the missing aircraft.
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Cops said they sent their own helicopter to search for any signs of the Super Stallion, but it wasn't able to reach the area due to the fierce atmospheric river storm the region is currently battling. However, the sheriff's department confirmed it has now sent off-road vehicles to navigate the rough terrain in the hope of finding the missing helicopter and those on board.
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It is not known what time the helicopter left Creech or what time they were due to arrive in California. According to defence officials, the Marines had been doing unit-level training at Creech Air Force Base and were returning home to Miramar.
California Fire officials said fire crews responded to the helicopter's last known location but found nothing. The five marines on board were said to be assigned to the 'Flying Tigers' of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.,
The helicopter was en route to California from Nevada when it vanished (AFP via Getty Images)According to local outlets, the Marines asked for help from local officials shortly after 2am local time. Crews were alerted at 2.20am local time and dispatched to an area near Lake Morina, but were unable to find the helicopter. The aircraft's last known location was over the Cleveland National Forest near Pine Valley in California, around 45 miles east of downtown San Diego, according to Lieutenant Matthew Carpenter.
Search efforts were made all the more difficult by heavy snow and wintry conditions, according to officials. It came as parts of California remain in the grips of a winter storm that has consisted of heavy rains, up to a foot in some areas, with several inches of snow falling in mountainous areas.
In a statement, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said: "The US Marine Corps is searching for five US Marines assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on February 6, 2025, when the aircraft was reported overdue.
"The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the Civil Air Patro. The most up-to-date information will be released as it becomes available."
The CH-53E was first introduced to active service in 1981. The Super Stallion is considered a staple of Marine Corps aviation and usually serves in a transportation role given its ability to carry up to 37 passengers in its normal configuration. Along with troops, the aircraft, which is also used by the US and Japanese navies, can be used to transport supplies and can be used in combat.
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