A helicopter carrying five US Marines has gone missing while flying from Nevada to California sparking a huge search for the aircraft in dangerous weather conditions.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was supposed to return to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar but was reported overdue on Tuesday night.
Five US Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar Air Station in San Diego is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol, the Marine Corps said.
Police received a call regarding the missing aircraft at 1:50am.
The Sheriff’s Department then had a helicopter sent out to search but was unable to reach the area due to stormy conditions that have caused issues across California. Off-road vehicles have now been sent to search through the rough terrain.
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The news comes as stormy conditions caused chaos across California, with officials warning residents to take care.
Waves of heavy downpours hit the area throughout the night from a historic storm that has drenched California this week.
It was unclear what time the helicopter took off from Nevada or why it was flying back in the storm.
Heavy rain has fallen across California for days now, and the severe weather is expected to continue until Thursday or Friday.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has told people in the city to prepare for rain, adding: “We cannot drop our guard.”
At least four people have been killed due to the extreme weather, with one person losing their life trying to cross the US-Mexico border.
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Three others were killed by falling trees in California.
Nearly 12 inches of rain has fallen in just 24 hours in the Westwood neighborhood of LA.
Homes have also been damaged by the hundreds of mudslides that have wreaked havoc in the city.
