Missing helicopter found - something odd going on?

[kbaxter60]

The helicopter was on a flight from NV to CA with five Marines on board. It didn't show up as expected and was found today near San Diego. They are now looking for the five on board. That, by itself seemed odd to me. They went on to say that Biden has been briefed on it and that they were not releasing other information for now.
What do y'all think we have here? Gone AWOL? A joyride gone wrong?
I'll post updates if I see more info.

 

[majormadmax]

Weather.

"The search comes as San Diego is experiencing a winter storm that has produced heavy rain since Tuesday night and has brought several inches of snow to the mountains."

Missing Marine helicopter found in San Diego's East County; search underway for aircrew

The five Marines were traveling on the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, flying from Creech Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, near San Diego, when it was reported “overdue” Tuesday.

www.nbcsandiego.com

 

[Vaquero]

Weather.

I can see that being an issue.

 

[kbaxter60]

Yeah, the weather may be it. They were getting that "river in the sky" out west and there was snow falling where the search was going on. Maybe went down in the snow and had to leave the chopper to keep from freezing? Still, don't you leave a note?

 

[perfor8]

Radios didn't work? ELT wasn't activated (although that was probably the "ping" mentioned in the article)? They didn't squawk emergency on transponder? Odd.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

So, it was found?
No mention whether it was crashed or not.

 

[V-Tach]

Hmmmm.....very odd. Back in my USAF days all our Huey's had cold weather survival kits (for the winters in South Dakota) and summer kits. All had emergency EPIRB type equipment strobes, ect....

 

[Whalercohasset]

Controlled flight into terrain. The mountains rise to 5500 feet in the area, their last radar altitude fix was 5100 feet. There is no one AT the crash site, they can just observe it from a nearby location.

 

[perfor8]

Controlled flight into terrain. The mountains rise to 5500 feet in the area, their last radar altitude fix was 5100 feet. There is no one AT the crash site, they can just observe it from a nearby location.

This makes the most sense. ELT would have self-activated, explaining the "ping".

 

[Cool 'Horn Luke]

I can see that being an issue.

Especially for the POS Sea Stallion. Probably the biggest killer of Marines, next to the Osprey.

 

[Axxe55]

The helicopter was on a flight from NV to CA with five Marines on board. It didn't show up as expected and was found today near San Diego. They are now looking for the five on board. That, by itself seemed odd to me. They went on to say that Biden has been briefed on it and that they were not releasing other information for now.
What do y'all think we have here? Gone AWOL? A joyride gone wrong?
I'll post updates if I see more info.

WAS @Hoji THE PILOT?

 

[toddnjoyce]

 

[Big Green]

Get home-itus got them. Supposedly they were on the deck refueling 30 miles prior and still took off into weather.

 

[toddnjoyce]

Get home-itus got them. Supposedly they were on the deck refueling 30 miles prior and still took off into weather.

Oof. If we move it guys we can beat the weather.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

All bodies have been found.
Still not much info.

 

[majormadmax]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/08/us/missing-military-helicopter-california-thursday/index.html

 

[deemus]

RIP.

Casts a different light.

 

[CharlieWH2O]

Especially for the POS Sea Stallion. Probably the biggest killer of Marines, next to the Osprey.

I'm not convinced that is accurate? That bird has been flying in Corps for damn near 60 years in different variants with a really good safety record. Air Force uses the 53 for the Jolly Green. We called the 46 "The Crowd Killer" when I was in a lot of years ago. My nephew was SgtMaj for 361 several years ago. A pretty good outfit. I'll wait to see the report but God rest the souls of those Marines.

 

[majormadmax]

Military Identifies 5 Marines Killed In California Helicopter Crash | The Daily Wire

www.dailywire.com