Efforts are underway to recover the remains of five U.S. Marines who tragically lost their lives when their helicopter crashed in stormy weather in the mountains near San Diego, according to military officials. The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter disappeared on Tuesday night during a flight training session. The Marines were on their way back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The crash site, located in the Cuyamaca Mountains, has been further complicated by heavy snowfall from a historic storm that swept through California. The military is conducting an investigation into the incident.
The identities of the Marines who perished in the crash have not been released as per military policy and will not be disclosed until 24 hours after their next-of-kin have been notified. However, it has been confirmed that the five Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar.
Recovery efforts have been severely hindered by the frigid weather conditions and heavy snowfall, which is making it difficult for search teams to reach the crash site. I do know that it’s cold… I know that’s been a contentious issue for searchers in reaching the crash site, said Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon, spokesperson for the wing.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his condolences and stated that the entire defense department mourns the loss of the brave Marines. President Joe Biden also expressed his sadness over the tragedy, stating that the Marines represented the very best of the nation.
The Super Stallion helicopter, which is designed to operate in adverse weather conditions, was last in contact at approximately 11:30 p.m. Tuesday during heavy downpours and snowfall. The wreckage was discovered the following morning near Pine Valley, around an hour’s drive from San Diego.
The CH-53E Super Stallion has a long history of deployment in combat and other operations worldwide. The helicopter, weighing nearly 35 tons and measuring 99 feet in length, has been utilized in various conflicts, including those in Beirut, Somalia, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.
This is not the first incident involving the Super Stallion helicopter. In 2018, four Marines from Miramar were killed when their helicopter crashed during a training mission near the California-Mexico border. The cause of the crash was determined to be a defective part for which two companies were later sued by the victims’ families. In 2005, another Super Stallion crashed in Iraq during a sandstorm, resulting in the loss of 31 lives. The accident was attributed to pilot error and remains the deadliest single loss of U.S. troops during the war.
The recovery efforts for the fallen Marines in the recent crash continue as investigators work to determine the cause of the incident. The loss of these brave individuals serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by service members to keep the country safe.
