The Marine Corps confirmed on Thursday that 5 Marines had died in Tuesday’s helicopter crash east of San Diego.
The announcement from the third Marine Plane Wing got here after a search and rescue operation positioned the helicopter on Wednesday in Pine Valley, about 44 miles east of San Diego. However the navy didn’t affirm the deaths of the Marines on board till early Thursday.
The Marines have been flying from Creech Air Power Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on a routine coaching flight when the plane was reported “overdue.”
Search groups, together with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Division and the Civil Air Patrol, combed the snowy and mountainous area on Wednesday till the helicopter, a CH-53E Tremendous Stallion, which is used to hold heavy autos, cargo and personnel, was discovered.
On Thursday, work was persevering with to get well the stays of the Marines and the gear, and an investigation into what prompted the crash was underway. the navy mentioned. The Marines weren’t recognized.
Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, the commanding common of the wing, mentioned in its assertion that he was sharing the information of the fatalities with “a heavy heart and profound sadness,” and expressed condolences to the Marines’ households.
The Marines on board have been a part of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, the Marine Plane Group 16, and the third Marine Plane Wing.
