SAN DIEGO — An Arizona man was one of five Marines killed in a helicopter crash earlier this week during stormy weather in the mountains outside San Diego.
Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler was identified by his family as one of the men killed.
The crash involved a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter which was designed to fly through bad weather, even at night.
Authorities say the CH-53E Super Stallion vanished late Tuesday night while crews were conducting flight training on their way back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego from Creech Air Force Base, northwest of Las Vegas.
The military confirmed Thursday that all five Marines were killed when their helicopter went down during stormy weather, and efforts were underway to recover their remains.
Langen was a newlywed. His mother, Caryn Langen, said in a statement she will miss him dearly.
Langen enlisted in the Marine Corps back in September of 2017. Langen's decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Good Conduct Medal, among others.
Elizabeth Langen, Sgt. Alec Langen's sister, told 12News sister station KFMB in San Diego, Sgt. Langen joined the Marines following in the footsteps of their father.
"He's just a rock. He was a rock for our family. He was a rock for (his wife) Casey," Elizabeth Langen said. "He was a rock for so many men in the Marines and I know that he's gonna have a big - it's gonna, it's gonna be a big hole and it's never gonna be the same without him."
All five Marines killed were in their 20s.
The decorated Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Miramar in San Diego.
The youngest was Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas, who was just promoted to the rank of lance corporal on New Year’s Day. The oldest was Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan.
Davis and Alec Langen were both crew chiefs. The rest were CH-53E pilots.
The other pilots on board were Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire, and Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho.
RELATED: 5 Marines aboard helicopter that went down outside San Diego are confirmed dead, military says
Marine Corps leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden expressed their condolences.
“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and the ‘Flying Tigers,’” Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, commander of the wing, said in a statement.
The Super Stallion is the largest helicopter in the military, but every aircraft has its limits, and while every flight for Marines is considered a training opportunity, there is inherent risk, experts say. Now investigators will be looking at whether it was appropriate to send troops into a region being clobbered by a storm of historic proportions.
The craft was discovered Wednesday morning near Pine Valley, an hour’s drive from San Diego.
The mountain community is at about 3,700 feet (1,127 meters) in elevation in the Cuyamaca Mountains, an area that saw as much 8 inches (20 centimeters) of accumulating snow within hours Tuesday night and early Wednesday and saw more falling Wednesday night, forecasters said.
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