Five members of the US Marine Corps went missing yesterday, Wednesday, after their helicopter crashed in a remote area east of San Diego. Civil authorities found the helicopter about 8 hours after it was reported that it missed its scheduled return to the Marine Corps Air Base in Miramar, California.
The crashed aircraft, a CH-53E Super Stallion, is about 99 feet (30 meters) long. It is the largest helicopter in the army and is designed to fly in harsh conditions. It can transport troops and equipment in rugged terrain at night and in bad weather conditions.