The engine of a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter caught fire in mid-flight Friday afternoon, prompting the plane to make an emergency landing at Camp Pendleton, authorities said.
All four crew members were able to exit the helicopter safely and no one was injured, according to a Marine Corps spokesperson.
The fire broke out at 3:11 p.m. on a CH-53E Super Stallion belonging to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the spokesperson said. The crew made an emergency landing at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, near Interstate 5 in San Diego County, where rescuers worked to extinguish the fire.
In a Friday afternoon post, the California Highway Patrol warned people to expect delays on Interstate 5 north of the Aliso Creek rest area. Photos and video included in this post showed the helicopter on fire in a field, emitting plumes of dark, black smoke.
