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A U.S. Marine assigned to the USS Anchorage disappeared during a training exercise off the coast of Southern California, triggering an extensive search involving multiple agencies that has now shifted into a recovery mission, according to the Navy.
Navy officials said the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group began searching at about 1:21 a.m. Thursday after the Marine was reported missing during integrated training with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The service said the Marine’s name will not be released until 24 hours after the notification of next of kin.
A U.S. Marine aboard the USS Anchorage went missing during a training exercise off the Southern California coast, leading to a coordinated search that has since become a recovery operation. (Lisa Lake/Getty Images)
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who are affected during this difficult time,” the Navy said in a statement released Saturday.
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The Navy said crews moved from search-and-rescue efforts to a search-and-recovery operation at approximately 9 p.m. Friday.
Before the mission shifted to recovery, three surface ships and 12 aircraft from four branches of the military spent 43 hours searching for the missing Marine. (Mike Kropf/Getty Images)
The search covered approximately 2,400 square miles over 43 hours and involved three surface ships and 12 aircraft from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force, according to the Navy.
The Navy launched a multi-agency search after a Marine assigned to the USS Anchorage was reported missing during training. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Evan Diaz)
The USS Anchorage is an amphibious transport dock ship assigned to the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.
News Agency has reached out to the Navy for additional information.
