United States Marine Corps CH-53E Destroyed

A Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing was destroyed by fire during ground operations at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Everyone on board evacuated without injury before the fire engulfed the airframe, and rescue services extinguished the blaze. The helicopter belonged to Marine Aircraft Group 16 out of MCAS Miramar. The CH-53E is the heaviest lift helicopter in American service and is being progressively replaced by the CH-53K King Stallion.