The five Marines who were aboard a helicopter that went down in the mountains outside San Diego Tuesday night have been confirmed dead, the Marines announced Thursday morning.
The military helicopter went missing on a flight from Nevada to California and was located by rescuers Wednesday morning.
“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and the “Flying Tigers” while conducting a training flight last night,” Major General Michael Borgschulte said in a statement. “These pilots and crew members were serving a calling greater than self and were proud to do so. To the families of our fallen Marines, we send our deepest condolences and commit to ensuring your support and care during this incredibly difficult time.”
Efforts to recover the bodies are ongoing and an investigation into the crash is underway.
The Marines were on a training flight aboard a CH-53E Super Stallion from Creech Air Force Base outside Las Vegas to Marine corps Air Station Miramar Tuesday night and were eventually reported “overdue,” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said Wednesday.
The helicopter was discovered near its last known location over the Cleveland National Forest, a 720 square mile area of mostly undeveloped land that lies approximately 50 miles east of San Diego.
Pine Valley, where the helicopter was located, is part of the San Diego County Mountains — a region that was under a winter storm warning at the time of the crash. The National Weather Service warned of “Heavy wet snow. Additional snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches with 10 to 14 inches on the highest peaks. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph tonight and early Thursday.”
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office dispatched a helicopter to begin the search immediately, but the aircraft was called off due to the “atmospheric river” still flooding Southern California. The region has been battered by record-setting rain since Sunday — three people in the state have been killed by falling trees as the storm spawned flooding and mudslides.
The incident comes roughly two months after a U.S. Air Force Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan in December. All eight crew members aboard the craft were killed in the incident.