A US Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter is currently the focus of search and rescue operations after it was reported overdue by Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, situated near San Diego. The helicopter, en route from an airbase near Las Vegas, had five marines on board.
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, a unit of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in Miramar, had personnel on the missing aircraft. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has joined in the efforts to locate the helicopter.
The alarm was raised at 02:20 local time on Wednesday (10:20 GMT), prompting fire crews to initiate a search near Lake Morina, California. However, the challenging wintry conditions, characterized by heavy snow and a winter storm, impeded their progress.
The CH-53E Super Stallion, a stalwart of Marine Corps aviation since its introduction in 1981, is primarily utilized for transport and can accommodate up to 37 passengers. Apart from troop transport, it serves combat purposes and logistics support. The helicopter is also in use by the US and Japanese navies.
This incident echoes a tragic occurrence in August, where a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet jet crashed in the same vicinity, resulting in the loss of a pilot's life. The Super Stallion has a history of serious accidents, with a notable incident in April 2018 when four troops lost their lives in a crash near El Centro, California during a training mission. Additionally, in January 2016, two Super Stallions collided over the Pacific near Oahu in Hawaii, resulting in the death of 12 Marines.
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