The wreckage of a U.S. Marine helicopter missing in Nepal has been found on the slopes of a mountain east of Kathmandu, a local army official said Friday.
The American chopper was spotted in the Gorthali area, at an altitude of 11,200 feet, according to Brig. Gen. Binoj Basnet. There was no immediate word on the fate of the crew.
The U.S. Joint Task Force confirmed the sighting of possible aircraft wreckage near Charikot.
Pararescue teams and a combat rescue officer are trying to determine if this is the helicopter which went missing on Tuesday, carrying six U.S. marines and two Nepali service members.
The UH-1Y Huey helicopter lost contact Tuesday evening as it helped with relief efforts in the earthquake-ravaged nation, Pentagon officials said.
Radio transmissions indicated its crew was having some type of fuel problem before it went missing near Charikot, roughly 45 miles east of the capital of Kathmandu.
The helicopter was delivering humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the nation on April 25, killing thousands of people. Another strong earthquake hit Nepal on Tuesday afternoon, causing more damage and casualties.
The area where it lost contact is near the epicenter of Tuesday’s magnitude 7.3 earthquake.
About 300 American personnel are on the ground in Nepal helping with earthquake relief efforts.