5 Marines aboard helicopter that crashed outside San Diego are confirmed dead, military says

SAN DIEGO —  Five U.S. Marines aboard a helicopter that went down during stormy weather in the mountains outside San Diego are confirmed dead, a Marine commander said Thursday.

It was the second fatal crash for Marines in Southern California involving a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion, a heavy lift helicopter, in the last six years. The Marines said an investigation into the latest crash is underway.

Authorities say the aircraft vanished late Tuesday while returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after a routine training mission to Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nev., northwest of Las Vegas. The helicopter was flying into treacherous weather in California, which had been inundated with three days of relentless rain.

“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,’ ” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, commander of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, said in a statement.

The names of those killed will not be released until 24 hours after next of kin are notified, officials said.

“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,” Borgschulte said. “Though we understand the inherent risks of military service, any loss of life is always difficult.”

Those aboard the flight were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, according to the Marines.

In a statement, President Biden said he and First Lady Jill Biden “extend our deepest condolences to their families, their squadron, and the U.S. Marine Corps as we grieve the loss of five of our nation’s finest warriors.” He also thanked the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, and other federal, state, and local agencies for helping in the search and recovery efforts.

“Our service members represent the very best of our nation — and these five Marines were no exception,” Biden said. “Today, as we mourn this profound loss, we honor their selfless service and ultimate sacrifice — and reaffirm the sacred obligation we bear to all those who wear the uniform and their families.”

As the Marines were flying back to their base Tuesday night, visibility was poor because of snow, rain and gusty winds, according to meteorologist Philip Gonsalves with the National Weather Service in San Diego. Those conditions would have been in play for most of the night and into the morning, Gonsalves said.

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The craft was discovered Wednesday morning near Pine Valley, in the Cuyamaca Mountains an hour’s drive from San Diego.

In use for more than four decades, the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is described by the Marines as a ship-to-shore heavy equipment mover that can travel up to 621 miles. The helicopter is capable of transporting a 16,000-pound howitzer or a 26,000-pound light armored vehicle, according to the vehicle’s feature descriptions. With a replacement cost of $26 million, the copter can carry up to 55 passengers, with a crew of three to four members.

At a news conference Thursday, a Marine official said an effort was underway to recover the remains of the five, but he did not provide further information on the cause of the crash.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection received word about the missing helicopter at 2:20 a.m. Wednesday and began the search in the area of Lake Morena, but their efforts were hampered by heavy snow and mud, officials said.

In 2018, four Marines died in a helicopter crash 15 miles west of El Centro. The crew flew out of a base in Twentynine Palms as part of a training exercise on April 3 on the same type of heavy-lift helicopter that went down Tuesday, according to a news release from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Two years after the crash, the families of the four Marines sued the manufacturers who supplied parts to the military. A Marine Corps investigation into the crash ruled out pilot error and pointed to a bypass valve as the root cause of the crash, the news outlet Marine Corps Times reported when the lawsuit was filed.

Flags at the California State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space were lowered to half-staff in honor of the Marines on Thursday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel offered their condolences to the “families, loved ones, and fellow service members during this painful time.”

“California joins the nation in mourning the tremendous loss of these Marines,” Newsom said in a statement. “Their dedication to serving our country will always be remembered.”

Times Staff Writer Noah Goldberg and the Associated Press contributed to this report.