US military searching for 5 crew members after helicopter crashes in California

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US military is searching for five missing crew members Wednesday after a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crash landed in the mountains outside of San Diego, California.

The chopper departed from Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas, Nevada en route to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. It was located by civilian authorities in a mountainous region to the east of the Miramar military installation known as Pine Valley.

"The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is managing search and rescue efforts through the Wing Operations Command Center and using ground and aviation assets to locate the aircrew in coordination with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and multiple federal, state and local agencies," the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.

Multiple reports said search and rescue efforts are being stymied by heavy snow in the area.

The helicopter was "reported overdue" earlier Wednesday morning, setting off the search effort.

The Sikorsky CH-53E is a mainstay of the US Marine Corps, used primarily as a heavy-lift transport aircraft. It is used by the American and Japanese militaries, and has been in service for more than four decades.