A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went up in flames on Friday in a “ground mishap.”

The helicopter caught fire on Friday, Aug. 22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. Footage of the blaze was posted to social media, including the Marine Corps subreddit, on Saturday. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed the incident on Sunday.

“At approximately 1:10 p.m. PDT Aug. 22, 2025, a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing experienced a ground mishap due to a fire onboard the aircraft at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California,” a spokesperson for the air wing said in a statement to Task & Purpose.

The fire happened while people were inside the helicopter, with the air wing saying that “all personnel sa

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