Marine helicopter based at Camp Pendleton reported missing in Nepal

A U.S. Marine helicopter went missing in Nepal on Tuesday while on a humanitarian relief mission after two major earthquakes, a Navy spokesman said.

The helicopter, a UH-1Y Huey, was carrying two Nepalese soldiers and six U.S. Marines near Charikot, Nepal, said Army Maj. Dave Eastburn, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command.

It was declared missing Tuesday around 6 a.m. Pacific time, the Navy said.

“It’s missing, there’s no evidence of anything else,” said Capt. Cassandra M. Gesecki, spokeswoman for the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. “We’re working on tracking it down.”

Eastburn said Nepalese troops are searching for the helicopter on foot, near its last known location.

A search by U.S. military helicopters and Ospreys, tilt-rotor aircraft that can land like helicopters, was suspended because of darkness. It will resume at dawn Wednesday, he said.

Gesecki said the helicopter was on a mission to deliver relief aid and transport earthquake victims who need medical treatment.

It belonged to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

Cloud reported from Washington and Bengali from Mumbai, India.