Authorities have successfully located a U.S. military helicopter that went missing while transporting five Marines from Nevada to California.
The discovery was made in Southern California, east of San Diego in Pine Valley, at 9:08 a.m., following extensive search efforts conducted by search and rescue crews amidst challenging weather conditions involving snow and rain in the mountainous region.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, had departed from Creech Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, destined for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Tuesday.
Military Helicopter (Credits: Good Word News)
It was declared overdue, prompting immediate search initiatives involving federal agencies, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the Civil Air Patrol.
The Marine Corps provided updates on social media, confirming the discovery of the helicopter several hours after the commencement of the search.
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, informed reporters aboard Air Force One en route to New York City that President Biden had been briefed on the ongoing search operations.
The helicopter’s last-known location was reported around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and concerns were raised when it was declared overdue at Miramar, prompting a call to the sheriff’s department just after 1 a.m.
The successful location of the missing helicopter brings relief to authorities, the military, and the families of the Marines on board, emphasizing the significance of coordinated efforts and timely responses in emergency situations.
