Military confirms 5 Marines aboard helicopter that crashed in mountains near San Diego have died

The U.S. military confirmed Thursday morning that the five U.S. Marines aboard a helicopter that crashed a day earlier in mountains east of San Diego are confirmed dead.

Military personnel lost contact with the helicopter late Tuesday night while it was returning in heavy weather to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego from Creech Air Force Base, northwest of Las Vegas, according to the Associated Press.

“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and the “Flying Tigers,” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, commander of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, said in a statement.

The names of the Marines were not immediately released.