The utility helicopter from Marine Light Attack Helicopter squadron 469 based at Camp Pendleton, California, was last seen after another helicopter in the area "picked up some [radio] chatter about a fuel problem," said Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.
"Right now we are hopeful that there was no crash. There has been no [emergency] beacon, no other signs — no flames, no smoke, no hole in the ground — to indicate that there was a crash," Warren said.
"That said of course it`s very rugged and difficult terrain," he added.
There are currently about 300 U.S. military personnel in Nepal providing humanitarian support and disaster relief supplies following the massive earthquake that hit the mountainous country more than two weeks ago.
The helicopter was flying in the vicinity of Charikot, Nepal. The six Marines, along with two Nepalese army soldiers on board, had dropped off some relief supplies, including tarps and rice, at one location and then took off on route to a second drop spot when they lost contact, Warren said.
The Nepalese Air Brigade reported the helicopter`s last known airborne location and three MV-22B Ospreys searched that area for 90 minutes, but were unable to find the aircraft. The air search was halted after dark and Nepalese soldiers were heading to the area on foot, Warren said.
U.S. and Nepalese aircraft will resume aerial search procedures at daybreak, according to a news release.
Marine Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, the forward commander of Joint Task Force 505, is leading the personnel rescue effort, Warren said.
A U.S. Air Force pararescue team "has rehearsed and is ready to execute if needed," Warren said.
The mountainous terrain makes the search very difficult.
"If it set down, then it can`t get radio transmissions out because that means it`s on low ground surrounded by mountains. Essentially what we have right now is truly a missing helicopter. We simply don`t know its location," Warren said.
The report of radio chatter about a fuel problem came from an Indian helicopter that was flying in the area at the time, Warren said.
"Right now we are hopeful. We have reason to believe this is simply the case of a helicopter that has landed and is out of communication."
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