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Five missing Marines confirmed dead in California

Five missing U.S. Marines were confirmed dead Thursday after ar Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, like the one shown here, crashed in San Diego County, Calif. Their helicopter had been found Wednesday about 40 miles from San Diego. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
Five missing U.S. Marines were confirmed dead Thursday after ar Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, like the one shown here, crashed in San Diego County, Calif. Their helicopter had been found Wednesday about 40 miles from San Diego. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Five missing Marines were confirmed dead after a helicopter crash in San Diego County, Calif., the U.S. Marine Corps announced Thursday.

"It is with heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 'Flying Tigers' while conducting a training flight last night, Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte said in a statement Thursday.

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The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion was found about 40 miles from San Diego in Pine Valley on Wednesday hours after it was reported overdue. It was traveling from the Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

The Marines were assigned to the Marine Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16. Their identities were not immediately released.

A search for the missing crew was hampered by the atmospheric river storms in the area as Marines and San Diego Sheriff's Department sent off-road vehicles when the storm prevented a search helicopter from reaching the area.

An investigation into the crash was underway.

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