5 US Marines missing on military helicopter in California

Five U.S. Marines are missing in California as crews search for a military helicopter over a mountainous region of the state.

The helicopter was located at 9:08 a.m. PST, according to an update from search crews. The Marines have still not been found.

Lt. Matthew Carpenter, a spokesperson for the San Diego County Sheriff’s office, said the search operation began around 1 a.m. local time Wednesday morning.

Carpenter said around 10 a.m. that crews are still fanning Pine Valley in San Diego County to find the Marines, who were with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The Hill has reached out to the military base for comment.

The five Marines were assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, according to an official at Miramar. 

The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to Miramar on Tuesday, but the aircraft was later reported overdue, the official said.

Pine Valley is located in the Cuyamaca Mountains just east of San Diego in Southern California.

Carpenter described the search area as “very mountainy” and said weather was also complicating the efforts. Police are not flying helicopters but are sending ground teams out to search for the missing marines, he said.

The search is a multi-agency effort, with Border Patrol and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection also assisting in the operation. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is also helping to search.

Heavy winter storms have been battering California, including San Diego County.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in San Diego.

Updated at 1:53 p.m.