Marine Helicopter Goes Missing During Nepal Relief Mission

From a Joint Task Force 505 News Release

KATHMANDU, Nepal, May 12, 2015 – A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopter with six Marines and two Nepalese service members aboard was declared missing today near Charikot, Nepal, Joint Task Force 505 officials reported.

Officials said the status of those aboard is unknown.

The Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 helicopter was flying in support of Joint Task Force 505, delivering humanitarian aid to people affected by a recent earthquake and was evacuating casualties back to Kathmandu.

Joint Task Force 505 personnel are responding to the emergency, officials said, and Nepalese military forces near the helicopter’s last known location are searching for the missing aircraft.

U.S. and Nepalese aircraft will resume aerial search procedures at daybreak, officials said.