Update III:
Nepalese special forces, U.S. Marines, and Air Force pararescuemen have been inserted near the wreckage site and have discovered eight separate sets of remains, but these have yet to be positively identified.
The cause of the accident has not been determined yet.
The aircraft belonged to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, from Camp Pendleton, California and arrived in Nepal directly from Exercise Balikatan 2015, which was underway in the Philippines.
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The U.S. and Nepalese service members aboard the Huey “were determined to go forward with their duties, eager to contribute to our mission to alleviate suffering and come to the rescue of those in need,” U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. John E. Wissler, the Joint Task Force 505 commander, said during a press conference May 15.
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A UH-1Y Huey arrived in Nepal today to replace one of the two remaining Hueys deployed May 16 in support of Operation Sahayogi Haat. A second UH-1Y is expected to arrive in Nepal May 17 to replace the other remaining Huey.
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The aircraft are scheduled for routine maintenance and the arrival of the new helicopters ensures uninterrupted support for the humanitarian assistance mission.
Update II:
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has expressed our “heavy grief” for the U.S. Marines who were killed when their helicopter crashed in the mountains of Nepal earlier this week while bringing aid to earthquake victims there.
He also joined “our Nepalese partners in mourning the loss of their service members who were onboard the helicopter at the time,” and thanked “the Nepalese and Indian governments for their continued support in search and recovery operations.”
“This tragedy is a reminder of the vital but dangerous role that American service members play in delivering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” the defense secretary said. “Our mission continues in Nepal, and we remain dedicated to answering the call when disaster strikes, both in the Asia-Pacific and around the world.”
.Carter added, “As we approach Armed Forces Day — when America recognizes the immense contributions made by our soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and Marines — the men and women of the Department of Defense stand strong alongside the families of these fallen patriots. They and their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Update I:
From a Joint Task Force 505 News Release:
OKINAWA, Japan, May 15, 2015 – Joint Task Force 505 personnel today identified the wreckage of a missing Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopter that went missing May 12 in Nepal.
The helicopter, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, was delivering humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Sahayogi Haat, the U.S. military earthquake relief effort.
The helicopter was reported missing with six U.S. Marines and two Nepalese service members aboard, JTF 505 officials said May 13.
Today at approximately 3:00 p.m. Japanese Standard Time a Nepalese search team identified possible wreckage of a downed aircraft approximately eight miles north of Charikot, Nepal.
Joint Task Force 505 dispatched a team of pararescuemen and a combat rescue officer to assess the wreckage. At approximately 5:05 p.m. Japanese Standard Time the team confirmed that the wreckage was that of the missing helicopter.
JTF 505 currently has a team of four pararescuemen and one combat rescue officer on the ground. Two Hueys assigned to HMLA 469 and one MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 are operating in support of the survey.
The assessment of the site is ongoing and a thorough investigation will be conducted.
Original post:
A reader this morning alerted me to the extremely sad news that the wreckage of the U.S. Marine helicopter carrying six U.S. Marines and two Nepalese Army soldiers, on their way to help victims of the Nepal earthquake, has been found.
The report says that three bodies were found next to the wreckage and that officials say it is “unlikely there were any survivors from the crash.
“The wreckage of the helicopter was found in pieces and there are no chances of any survivors,” Nepal’s Defense Secretary Iswori Poudyal said. He gave no details about the nationalities of the three victims, saying only that their remains were found.
[…]
The U.S. task force leading humanitarian efforts in Nepal confirmed the wreckage as the missing UH-1Y Huey from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469.
“The assessment of the site is ongoing and a thorough investigation will be conducted,” a statement from the Marine-led joint task force said. That statement makes no mention of having located those on board the aircraft.
[…]
The wreckage was found about 15 miles from the town of Charikot, near where the aircraft had gone missing on Tuesday while delivering humanitarian aid to villages hit by two deadly earthquakes.
[…]
The helicopter had been delivering rice and tarps in Charikot, the area worst hit by Tuesday’s quake. It had dropped off supplies in one location and was en route to a second site when contact was lost.
[…]
The Huey’s squadron’s is based at Camp Pendleton in southern California.
What a tragedy for those who are lending a Helping Hand in a humanitarian relief operation named “Sahayogi Haat”
As the reader says, “Rest in Peace Marines. Semper Fi”
Lead photo: A Marine UH-1Y Huey helicopter takes off for a search and rescue mission earlier this week in Nepal.(Photo: Cpl. Thor Larson/Marine Corps)
