SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A 100-foot-long Marine Corps helicopter made an emergency landing Wednesday on a Southern California beach, but no injuries or damage were reported.
The CH-53E Super Stallion landed on the shore of this northern San Diego County town shortly after 11:30 a.m. after a low oil-pressure indicator light went on in the cockpit, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar said in a statement.
“The aircraft was conducting routine training, and the pilots landed the aircraft safely” on the beach, the statement said.
The aircraft was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466.
Television news reports showed the big copter crouched on the sand below a bluff and only a few yards from the surf line, dwarfing surfboard-topped lifeguard vehicles parked nearby.
The air base said a hazardous-material team was sent to the scene about 14 miles northwest of San Diego to clean up the site and examine the aircraft, which was expected to return to Miramar later in the afternoon, according to the air base.
The Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military. It has three engines, can travel at more than 170 mph and can carry a crew of four.
Its main job is transporting heavy equipment.
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