The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed the identities of Five Camp Pendleton-based Marines that were killed when their MV-22B Osprey aircraft crashed Wednesday during a training flight in Imperial County.
The crew aboard the aircraft included Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois, a crew chief; Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire, a pilot; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming, a crew chief; Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, a pilot; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico, a crew chief.
According to the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, the aircraft went down shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday in an “aviation mishap” while on training near Glamis, east of Brawley.
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family'' said Lt. Col. John C. Miller. “This is an extremely difficult time… and it is hard to express the impact that this loss has had on our squadron and its families. Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time.''
The cause of the crash was under investigation.
Marine Corps officials dispelled rumors that the Marine Aircraft Group 39-operated Osprey was carrying nuclear material at the time of the crash.
On Thursday evening, a Navy helicopter crashed north of Yuma, Arizona. Officials announced everyone on board survived.
The crash was reported around 5 p.m. in the Palo Verde area south of Blythe, according to an alert posted on the Naval Air Facility El Centro Facebook page.
The crew was on a training mission in an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3, Harrell said.
