Four Presumed Fatally Injured Pending Notification Of Relatives

A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed in the vicinity of El Centro, California, at approximately 2:35 p.m. Tuesday during a routine training mission, according to a USMC news release.

Four crew members were aboard the aircraft. The status of all four is presumed dead pending positive identification.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. The names of the deceased will be withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.

The Marine Corps said that no further information on the accident was available.

According to Military.com, the CH-53 Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter that can carry a 26,000-pound Light Armored Vehicle, 16 tons of cargo 50 miles and back, or enough combat-loaded Marines to lead an assault or humanitarian operation. Though powerful enough to lift every aircraft in the Marine inventory except the KC-130, the CH-53E Super Stallion is compact enough to deploy on amphibious assault ships, and has the armament, speed and agility to qualify as much more than a heavy lifter.

The CH-53E is commonly called on for assault transport of Marine ground forces. Though long-range insertion missions are standard protocol for this Marine workhorse, it is the rapid resupply of Marines at the forefront that makes the Super Stallion one of the most used aircraft in Marine Aviation.

(Source: USMC news release and as cited. Image from file)

FMI: www.marines.mil, www.military.com/equipment/ch-53e-super-stallion