Nepalese rescuers found three bodies near the wreckage of a missing U.S. Marine Corps helicopter Friday.
The UH-1 “Huey” copter, which was on a relief mission in Nepal as it recovers from two deadly earthquakes, went missing earlier this week. Officials said it was unlikely there were any survivors from the crash.
The helicopter was carrying six Marines and two Nepalese army soldiers.
“The wreckage of the helicopter was found in pieces and there are no chances of any survivors,” Nepal Defense Secretary Iswori Poudyal said. No details about the nationalities of the three victims were given, just that the charred remains were found.
A separate U.S. Marine Corps team also said they identified the wreckage as the missing helicopter.
“The assessment of the site is ongoing and a thorough investigation will be conducted,” a statement from the Marine-led joint task force said.
The wreckage was found roughly 15 miles away from the town of Charikot, near where the helicopter went missing. The helicopter had been delivering rice and tarps in the area, which was worst hit by the earthquake.
Col. Steve Warren said the families have been notified their Marines, who were based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., were on the helicopter. While the military has had visual confirmation of two bodies, extreme terrain and weather has hampered further access to the site.
Warren said that while the military has not positively identified the crew, “based on the conditions of the crash and the location of the crash site, it is likely they have all perished.”
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter issued a statement on the loss, saying, “Our hearts are heavy with grief for the U.S. Marines who perished when their helicopter went down in the mountains of Nepal.”
• This article has been updated.
