A U.S. Marine serving on a Navy ship went missing during a training exercise off the Southern California coast, prompting a massive multi-agency search that has since transitioned to a recovery operation.
The search began after the Marine disappeared during integrated training with a Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Navy has not released the Marine's identity, citing a policy of notifying next of kin before publicly identifying the individual.
The Navy described the search effort, which covered approximately 2,400 square miles over 43 hours, as involving three surface ships and 12 aircraft from multiple branches of the U.S. military. The search operation was extensive, involving coordination between several agencies.
The Navy transitioned from search-and-rescue efforts to a search-and-recovery operation on Friday evening. The change in approach reflects the challenging circumstances of the situation.
The Navy expressed its condolences to the family and those affected by the incident, offering thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The incident is being handled with sensitivity and professionalism.
