Missing military helicopter found, search continues for 5 Marines on board

A missing military helicopter was found in Southern California Wednesday morning, but a search and rescue operation continues for five missing Marines on board, the U.S. Marine Corps said.

The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was “reported overdue” to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Tuesday night. The helicopter departed from Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas and was en route to Miramar, in the San Diego area.

missing military helicopter found, search continues for 5 marines on board

Sailors prepare to chock and chain a CH-53E Super Stallion during flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio in this U.S. Navy file photo.

missing military helicopter found, search continues for 5 marines on board

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu in a U.S. Navy file photo.

The Marines asked for help from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and Civil Air Patrol.

The sheriff’s department said it received a call at 1:50 a.m. and sent its own helicopter to search, but the helicopter wasn’t able to reach the area due to the atmospheric river storm hitting the region. The sheriff’s department said it then sent off-road vehicles to navigate the rough terrain.

MORE: How climate change contributes to the atmospheric rivers slamming the West Coast

The Marines said the helicopter was discovered at 9:08 a.m. Wednesday.

Rescue efforts are ongoing.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

“We’re watching this closely,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said. “Our thoughts are for the best.”

ABC News’ Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.

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