Midair Fire Forces Emergency Landing Of Miramar-Based Military Chopper

Friday, June 7, 2019

Credit: Lance Cpl. Claudia Nix / U.S. Marine Corps

Above: A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) conducts an external lift exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-19 at Auxiliary Airfield II, Yuma, Arizona, April 3, 2019.

A military helicopter being flown by personnel based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar made a safe emergency landing in Imperial County on Thursday after a fire broke out aboard it during a routine training flight, authorities said.

The midair blaze on the CH-53E Super Stallion erupted for unknown reasons about 1 p.m., according to Marine Corps officials.

The aircraft, assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, landed without incident at Imperial County Airport in Imperial, where civilian firefighters quickly doused the flames.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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