Five marines who disappeared in a helicopter crash in the mountains outside San Diego, California, were confirmed dead, the military said on Thursday morning.
The names of the marines were not immediately released. They were first reported missing on Tuesday.
“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.
Authorities said the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, a craft made 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.
The crew was flying in a historic storm that dumped snow and rain across California, conditions that also hampered 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 local time on Wednesday.
Joe Biden said in a statement that he and the first lady, Jill Biden, are “heartbroken” to learn of the marines’ deaths.
“Our service members represent the very best of our nation – and these five Marines were no exception,” the US president said. “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.”
