Search continues for missing Camp Pendleton helicopter, Murrieta Marine

The search for a UH-1Y Huey helicopter that went missing on Tuesday, May 12 in Nepal while on a humanitarian mission is ongoing, according to an official with U.S. Pacific Command.

"We are exhausting all available assets designated for this mission to conduct search operations," Major David Eastburn with PACOM said in a telephone interview with Valley News. "That includes two UH-1Ys (helicopters) and two MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft which conduct search operations during daylight hours."

After nightfall, Nepalese police and military are conducting searches on foot in the most probable location for the missing aircraft and the crew," Eastburn said.

"Additionally, the Indian Army provided an MI-17 helicopter and Nepal provided three Nepalese helicopters to assist in the search southeast and northeast of Charikot respectively, while a Nepalese Special Forces platoon search near Ghorhali and a Nepalese Army battalion and a boat team search the area around Tama Kosh," he said.

Initial reports that Murrieta resident Eric Seaman was one of the eight aboard the Huey when it disappeared, remain unconfirmed by the military as of press time.

According to Eastburn confirmation of those onboard the flight will be made available once the proper protocol has been followed.

"Out of respect to the family and according to the privacy act of 1974, you have to wait 72-hours after notifying the next of kin for names to be released," he said

The Huey, from Marine Light Attack Helicopter squadron 469 based at Camp Pendleton, was carrying six U.S. Marines and two Nepalese soldiers when it disappeared in a remote mountainous region in Nepal.

"You've got Mount Everest out there, you've got the Himalaya Mountains that runs along the China border in Nepal," said Eastburn. "It's some of the most rugged terrain in the world."

The missing Huey, along with the crew were part of Joint Task Force 505 - as part of Operation Sahayogi Haat - deployed to Nepal following a request from the Napalese government after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck the country on April 25. The trembler reportedly killed more than 8,000 people.

A second, magnitude-7.3 quake - the largest of the aftershocks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey - shook the region on Monday, May 11.

Sgt. Juan J. Alcarez of Yucca Valley, was also reportedly on the flight, according to Defense Video and Imagery Distribution, a private company specializing in public relations for U.S. military units deployed overseas.

In addition to conducting search efforts, the U.S. aircraft have been delivering HADR supplies and evacuating injured personnel while at the same time attempting to locate the missing U.S. helicopter, Eastburn said.