A U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky CH-53E heavy lift helicopter crashed during a training sortie in North Carolina, killing one Marine and inj...
A U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky CH-53E heavy lift helicopter crashed during a training sortie in North Carolina, killing one Marine and injuring eleven.
The helicopter belonging to Heavy Helicopter Squadron-464, Marine Aircraft group-29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing experienced a hard landing while conducting training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., at approximately 9 p.m. Sept. 2, 2015, resulting in one fatality.
According to Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune (NHCL), one service member was transferred there via air MEDEVAC and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Seven service members were treated initially at NHCL; six have been evaluated and are scheduled for release while one has been admitted and is in stable condition. Additionally, three service members were transferred to Onslow Memorial Hospital and are in stable condition.
One service member is in transit to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C. The identity of our lost service member will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin has been notified.
The CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military.
The heavy-lift helicopter of the Marine Corps can carry a 26,000-pound Light Armored Vehicle, 16 tons of cargo 50 miles and back, or enough combat-loaded Marines to lead an assault or humanitarian operation.
Though powerful enough to lift every aircraft in the USMC inventory except the KC-130, the CH-53E Super Stallion is compact enough to deploy on amphibious assault ships, and has the armament, speed and agility to qualify as much more than a heavy lifter.
