The United States Marine Corps (USMC) confirmed on Thursday the deaths of five service members missing after their helicopter crashed this week in southern California.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed Tuesday while flying from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to the USMC Air Base in Miramar, according to commanders.
“It is with great regret and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from the 3rd Marine Aviation Wing and the ‘Flying Tigers’ while conducting a training flight” Tuesday night, said Maj. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, commander of that air detachment, in a statement.
The Marine Corps reported that efforts have begun to recover the remains of the crash victims and that an investigation is underway.
President Joe Biden said he was “heartbroken” by the loss of the soldiers.
“We express our deepest condolences to their families, their squadron, and the United States Marine Corps as we mourn the loss of five of our nation’s greatest warriors,” the president said in a statement.
“Today, as we mourn this profound loss, we honor their selfless service and ultimate sacrifice, and reaffirm the sacred obligation we have to all those who wear the uniform and their families.”
➡️Join the El Sol de México channel on WhatsApp so you don’t miss the most important information
During 2023 there were a series of accidents with aircraft military Americans, including that of a V-22 Osprey aircraft off the coast of Japan at the end of November, which left eight people dead.
Five US soldiers died when a helicopter crashed in the Mediterranean during a training exercise earlier the same month, while another Osprey crash in Australia killed three Marines in August.