Five Marines, helicopter reported missing on stormy Nevada-Calif. flight

A helicopter carrying five Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 went missing during a stormy flight from Nevada to California.

Driving the news: The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was reported overdue after leaving Creech Air Force Base in Nevada and was en route to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

• The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol.

• The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection received word about the missing helicopter and the last known contact with the crew was at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

• Search efforts have been hampered by heavy snow and muddy terrain in the remote area of Lake Marina in the Cleveland National Forest.

• The U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the Civil Air Patrol are assisting in the search.