Marine Corps Confirms 5 Killed in CH-53 Crash

The Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter was on a training flight when it went down late Tuesday in a remote area in Southern California.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, February 08, 2024 at 10:11 AM ET

Verified

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing conducts a night flight at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, June 8, 2023. [Courtesy: U.S. Marine Corps]

Key Takeaways:

Five U.S. Marines were confirmed dead after their CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter crashed in a remote area of Southern California late Tuesday during a training flight.
The aircraft and its aircrew, assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, were reported missing before the fatalities were confirmed.
Search-and-rescue efforts faced challenges due to severe weather, including snow, and have now transitioned to a recovery mission as an investigation into the crash is underway.

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Five Marines aboard a CH-53 Super Stallion that went down in a remote area of Southern California late Tuesday are confirmed to be dead, service officials said Thursday.

“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing [MAW] and the ‘Flying Tigers’ while conducting a training flight [Tuesday] night,” Major General Michael Borgschulte, commanding general of 3rd MAW, said in a statement. “These pilots and crewmembers were serving a calling greater than self and were proud to do so. We will forever be grateful for their call to duty and selfless service.”