Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, there were breaking reports that a Marine Corps helicopter flying from Nevada to California had gone missing, and local, state, and military authorities were searching for the helicopter. Now, an updated report says it has been located--and the same destructive stormy weather conditions that may have played a part in the incident appear to be hindering the rescue operations of the five airmen on board.

via the Associated Press:

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Marine Corps helicopter that had been missing with five troops aboard as an historic storm continued drenching California was found Wednesday morning in a mountainous area outside San Diego.

The aircraft was located just after 9 a.m. by civil authorities near the mountain community of Pine Valley, about a 45-mile (72-kilometer) drive from San Diego but rescue crews said snowy conditions were making access challenging on the ground.

Defense officials told the AP that the troops were flying "in a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base, northwest of Las Vegas, where they had been doing unit-level training and were returning home to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego."

The Marine Corps is searching for five Marines assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

For additional updates, follow @3rdmaw. https://t.co/Mh1TqYofwM

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) February 7, 2024

In a statement, the Marine Corps said it was 

using ground and aviation assets to locate the aircrew in coordination with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and multiple federal state and local agencies.

This is a developing story. RedState will provide updates as they become available.

Updated [2/8/24, 9:35 p.m. EST]: The U.S. Marine Corps provided a sad update on this story on Thursday: 

We offer our most heartfelt sympathy and support to the families and friends of the Marines who are now confirmed deceased in yesterday's CH-53E mishap. https://t.co/d5p23fzVcG

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) February 8, 2024

Their post to X read:

We offer our most heartfelt sympathy and support to the families and friends of the Marines who are now confirmed deceased in yesterday's CH-53E mishap.