Alec Langen of Chandler, Arizona, was aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash
CHANDLER, AZ — A Marine sergeant from the Valley was one of five people killed in a military helicopter crash near San Diego earlier this week, according to his family. Authorities say the CH-53E Super Stallion vanished late Tuesday night while returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after training at Creech Air Force Base, northwest of Las Vegas.
The wreckage was located Wednesday morning near the mountain community of Pine Valley, about an hour away from San Diego. The family tells ABC15 that 23-year-old Alec Langen of Chandler, Arizona, was aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash. He was serving as the Crew Chief on the flight. Sgt. Langen was a crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Air Wing. The military, which confirmed that all five people aboard had died, has not officially released the names of the military members involved. A recovery mission was still underway Thursday. Emergency crews had been working to reach the area amid severe weather. Additional resources have been requested to assist with the rescue near Pine Valley due to heavy snow. @CALFIRESANDIEGO is currently in Unified Command with U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Border Patrol, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and CA. Civil Air Patrol. pic.twitter.com/UekqwOTlaB — CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire February 7, 2024 Alec had dreamed of becoming a Marine since he was a child, according to Langen's father, Steven, who says he had previously flown in the same helicopter as his son. "Ever since he was three, he was like, 'I want to do what daddy did,'" said Steven."I did the same thing. I was in the same helicopter, same everything from '86 to '95." "Being a Marine to Alec was everything. Steve pinned his wings on him when he finished training," said Caren Langen, Alec's mother."He idolized his father.""We mourn the tragic loss of five U.S. Marines earlier this week during a training flight enroute from Nevada to California. My prayers are with these brave Marines and their families, loved ones, and teammates," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said Thursday."As the Marine Corps investigates this deadly crash, it is yet another reminder that across our nation and the world our selfless service members put their lives on the line every day to keep our country safe. The entire Department of Defense honors these brave Marines' service and grieves their passing."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
San Diego freight trains stopped again by San Clemente landslideSoggy slope slips almost 3 feet in 24 hours, getting close to railroad tracks at Mariposa Pedestrian Bridge site
Read more »
Missing Marine helicopter found in San Diego's East County; search underway for aircrewThe five Marines were traveling on the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, flying from Creech Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, to Marine Corps Air Station…
Read more »
Storm Latest: Newsom asks White House for disaster declaration for San DiegoThree local school districts announce delayed starts for Thursday in the wake of heavy snowfall.
Read more »
5 Marines aboard helicopter that went down outside San Diego are confirmed dead, military saysThe military says U.S. Marines aboard a helicopter that went down during stormy weather in the mountains outside of San Diego are confirmed dead
Read more »
San Diego had a tornado warning: So what should you do if it happens again?It’s a rare occurrence, but here we are still talking about it: a tornado warning in San Diego. The warning, which was issued shortly after 11:30 Tuesday…
Read more »
Arizona marine on helicopter that crashed in Southern California, family member statesOne of the five marines onboard a helicopter that crashed in Southern California is from Arizona, according to family members.
Read more »