San Diego • A Marine helicopter crashed during a Southern California training mission and all four crew members were believed killed, the military said.
The CH-53E Super Stallion went down shortly after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday near El Centro, a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
The helicopter was with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing out of the Miramar air station in San Diego, according to a base press statement.
The names of the crewmembers will be withheld until 24 hours after their relatives are notified, the Miramar base said.
Tuesday’s California crash is the deadliest involving a Marine aircraft since a KC130T transport plane went down in Mississippi last July, killing 15 Marines and a sailor.