The CH-53 Super Stallion crashed Feb. 6, 2024, during a night flight when it hit a mountain near Pine Valley, California, killing all five Marines aboard.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s news release didn’t identify the five Marines, citing the military’s policy of waiting 24 hours after notifying next of kin.
World War II-era live-fire ranges contain unexploded ordnance, and current live-fire training nearby would pose its own risks, the base commander said.
The Marine Corps is pausing its aviation operations for two days as the disappearance of a Marine Corps F-35B jet over South Carolina remains unsolved.