We do begin tonight with the urgent search and rescue
effort underway at this hour for five U.S.
Marines missing when their helicopter crashed while flying in dangerous
weather.
Emergency teams fighting debris hours into their search wreckage from
the Super Stallion chopper discovered in Southern California tonight.
The search launched when the helicopter was reported overdue.
The chopper was flying from the Las Vegas area to
Miramar in San Diego.
the Super Stallion described as a heavy lift helicopter used
to move troops and equipment.
The crew was flying overnight in heavy snow and rain
with dangerous wind gusts.
And the grueling conditions from the storms here in the
West,
slowing the rescue effort on the ground tonight.
AB CS Matt Gutman leading us off near the scene
in California.
Tonight, the desperate search for five Marines after their helicopter
crashed in the mountains outside San Diego during a nighttime
flight in dangerous weather conditions.
The Marines were flying what was described as a routine
training mission late Monday departing from Creech Air Force Base
outside Las Vegas.
When the Chapter 53 Super Stallion helicopter didn't arrive as
expected at Air Station Miramar in San Diego,
it was reported overdue, triggering an extensive search.
We got a call from the Marine Corps.
Captain and Aviation safety officer saying that they lost signal
for one of their aircraft in the Pine Valley area.
The crew flying into treacherous weather that had been slamming
Southern California for days with heavy snow,
low visibility and gusty winds at the time the chopper
went down.
This is a rugged area of the county.
The axis is up a truck trail,
dirt road, and we had a lot of snow in
that area.
About 7 hours after the Marines were first reported missing,
the debris field was discovered.
This dirt track is the only way to get to
the crash site and we're told that rescuers could drive
only about a mile farther down in this mud.
After that, they had to dismount and hike several miles.
Just to get to that debris field,
the Chapter 53 E Super Stallion helicopter,
known as the workhorse for the Marines,
is capable of carrying heavy loads and transporting up to
55 people.
The crash comes after a string of deadly military disasters.
19 service members died in five separate helicopter crashes in
2023.
David, we know that search and rescue teams have reached
that crash site.
At this point, it's the Marines that are heading up
search and rescue.
There's no indication yet on what might have caused that
helicopter to go down.
There's also no indication at this point that there are
any survivors.
David.
All right. Back up and reporting live from Southern California
tonight,
Matt. Thank you.