After days of intensive searching, the wreckage of the missing UH-1 U.S. military helicopter has finally been found. The helicopter was on its way to provide aid to the Dolokha district of Nepal, one of the areas that was hit hard by the recent 7.3 magnitude earthquake.
The helicopter that was carrying six U.S. Marines and two members of the Nepalese army went missing at 22:00 local time (2 p.m. BST) on Tuesday. Search and rescue efforts were immediately mobilized to look for the aircraft, whose disappearance baffled even experienced helicopter pilots, according to NBC News.
The wreckage was spotted from the air by search teams, according to The Telegraph. Major General Binoj Basnet stated in an interview with AFP that initially, no signs of life could be seen from the crash site.
"We don't know if there are any survivors, we have yet to confirm that. We have sighted the wreckage from the air, we are now trying to land in the area and get more information," he said.
Search teams have already reached the wreckage as of writing, however. Officials have released a statement saying that so far, the teams have been able to find three bodies at the site of the crash, according to BBC News.
Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepal Times, stated that the Huey's wreckage was found 56km (35 miles) from Kathmandu, in the Dolokha district. He said that the crash site was at an elevation of 3,383m (11,000 feet).
Search teams are continuing to search the nearby area to look for possible survivors and to find any clues that may shed light on the mysterious circumstances behind the crash.
More than 20 UH-1 U.S. Army helicopters remain on rescue missions for the earthquake-stricken country.
