All five U.S. Marines aboard a military aircraft that crashed in Southern California on Wednesday died in the accident, according to Marine Corps officials on Thursday.
The Marines crashed during a training mission involving an MV-22B Osprey near Glamis, a few miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“We mourn the loss of our Marines in this tragic mishap. Our hearts go out to their families and friends as they cope with this tragedy,” Maj. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, said in a statement.
The Marines served in Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, an aviation squadron based in San Diego, according to the statement. The identities of the five Marines have not yet been released.
“As a matter of policy, identities of deceased service members are not released until 24-hours after all next-of-kin notifications have been completed,” the statement added.
Press Release: 5 Marines dead in MV-22B mishap pic.twitter.com/0hHHXfU8BD
— 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (@3rdmaw) June 9, 2022
The aircraft, based at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, reportedly crashed at 12:25 p.m. local time, according to The Desert Sun. The Imperial County Fire Department and military firefighters responded to the incident.
The statement added that equipment recovery efforts and an investigation are underway.
“We ask for the public’s patience as we work diligently with first responders and the unit to identify what occurred,” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a Wednesday statement.
The news follows the death of a U.S. Navy pilot in California who died during a training crash on Friday.
U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Richard Bullock died when his F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed in the vicinity of Trona, California, on Friday afternoon.
“Bullock was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., and was flying a routine training mission at the time before his aircraft when down in a remote, unpopulated area. No civilians were harmed as a result of this incident,” according to the Navy’s statement.
“The incident is currently under investigation and the scene of the crash is secured by Navy and local authorities while recovery efforts are ongoing,” it added.
Four U.S. Marines were also killed in an Osprey helicopter crash during a NATO training exercise in Norway in March.
The Marine Corps revealed the identities of the four men in a statement as Cpl. Jacob M. Moore, 24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy, 30, of Cambridge, Ohio; Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Capt. Ross A. Reynolds, 27, of Leominster, Massachusetts.
The four Marines served in the “Raging Bulls” of Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in New River, North Carolina.
The four men were reported missing after failing to report back following a training mission in northern Norway, according to the statement. The incident also involved an MV-22B Osprey.