Tragedy struck as five marines who went missing in a helicopter crash in the mountains outside San Diego, California, were confirmed dead, the military announced on Thursday morning.
The marines’ names were not immediately disclosed, but they were first reported missing on Tuesday.
Maj Gen Michael J Borgschulte, commander of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, expressed deep sorrow, saying, “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’.”
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, designed for heavy duty missions, disappeared while returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after training at Creech Air Force Base, outside of Las Vegas, amidst a historic storm that dumped snow and rain across California, hindering search and rescue efforts.
The marines were flying through the rugged Pine Valley area, and were discovered about an hour’s drive outside of the small mountain town of the same name. Pine Valley is about 3,700ft (1,127 meters) in elevation in the Cuyamaca mountains, and includes the region’s highest mountain, Cuyamaca Peak.
The craft was discovered by civilian authorities about an hour’s drive outside San Diego, just after 9am PT on Wednesday.
President Joe Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, expressed their grief, with Biden stating, “Our service members represent the very best of our nation – and these five Marines were no exception. As the Department of Defense continues to assess what occurred, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, their squadron, and the US Marine Corps as we grieve the loss of five of our nation’s finest warriors.”
2024-02-08 09:29:17
Link from www.theguardian.com