Effort underway to recover remains of 5 Marines killed in California helicopter crash

SAN DIEGO — Five Marines aboard the helicopter that went down in East County mountains amid a vicious winter storm this week died in the crash, military officials confirmed Thursday.

The crew and their CH-53E Super Stallion was last heard from around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday while flying from Creech Air Force Base just outside Las Vegas to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, officials said.

At the time, snow, rain and strong winds were pelting the aircraft's last known location near Pine Valley.