On February 8th, a US Marine helicopter went missing in the Southern California mountains. The CH-53E Super Stallion was flying from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar when it disappeared during unit-level training exercises.
The fate of those aboard is not immediately known as rescuers are battling heavy snow to reach the helicopter.
On February 8th, a US Marine helicopter went missing in the Southern California mountains. The CH-53E Super Stallion was flying from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar when it disappeared during unit-level training exercises. Civilian authorities searched on ground and by air for the aircraft and found it just after 9 a.m., near Pine Valley, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) drive from San Diego. The fate of those aboard is not immediately known as rescuers are battling heavy snow to reach the helicopter.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was designed to fly in harsh conditions.
Additional resources were brought in because of the heavy snowfall Wednesday in the sparsely populated mountains
`Winds were gusting up to 20 mph Tuesday evening near Pine Valley and likely stronger at higher elevations. Radar indicates a heavy band of precipitation swept through the area between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday, with rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations`
Accuracy
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was reported missing in an area north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road.
Cal Fire officials said the military helicopter was reported missing at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday based on a 'ping' to a Cal Fire dispatch center.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the helicopter went missing but does not provide any information on how or why it disappeared. This implies that there was no intention to mislead the reader and they were simply unaware of what happened. However, later in the article, it mentions a ping reported by Cal Fire's dispatch center which indicates that they had contact with the helicopter before its disappearance. Therefore, this statement is deceptive as it implies that there was no communication with the helicopter after it went missing when in fact there was.
The article states that the helicopter disappeared but does not provide any information on how or why it happened.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the military helicopter was reported missing in an area north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road, located southeast of Pine Valley, which is at about 3,700 feet (1,127 meters) in elevation in the Cuyamaca Mountains. The author also uses a dichotomous depiction by stating that the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was designed to fly in harsh conditions and had gone missing as an historic storm dumped heavy snow and record rain over California, implying that it is either flying perfectly or not at all. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that waves of heavy downpours hit the area throughout the night and heavy snow fell in the mountains in Southern California.
The military helicopter was reported missing in an area north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road, located southeast of Pine Valley, which is at about 3,700 feet (1,127 meters) in elevation in the Cuyamaca Mountains.
Waves of heavy downpours hit the area throughout the night and heavy snow fell in the mountains in Southern California.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the military and their actions. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who are missing in action by referring to them as 'troops' rather than individuals with families and loved ones. Additionally, the article portrays the Marines as heroes who were doing unit-level training when they went down, which may not be entirely accurate or complete.
]The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter — the largest helicopter in the military, designed to fly in harsh conditions — had gone missing as an historic storm dumped heavy snow and record rain over California.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on the rescue of a Marine helicopter with five people aboard that crashed in snowy California mountains. The author is Julie Watson and Lolita C. Baldor from Associated Press.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Marine Corps unit-level training as they are reporting on the rescue operation for a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that crashed during unit-level training. The article also mentions Creech Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, which could be additional topics to consider.
The article mentions Creech Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, which are both topics that the author may have a personal or professional interest in. This could also compromise their ability to report objectively.
The article reports on the rescue operation for a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that crashed during unit-level training. This topic is directly related to the author's job as an Associated Press reporter covering military and defense issues, which could compromise their ability to report objectively.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was found in Southern California's Pine Valley
Winds were gusting up to 20 mph Tuesday evening near Pine Valley and likely stronger at higher elevations. Radar indicates a heavy band of precipitation swept through the area between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday, with rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations
The fate of those aboard isn't immediately known
Accuracy
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was designed to fly in harsh conditions
Rescuers were battling heavy snow to reach the Marine Corps helicopter carrying five troops that went down in the mountains outside San Diego.
Additional resources were brought in because of the heavy snowfall Wednesday in the sparsely populated mountains
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the condition of the helicopter was not immediately disclosed which could be seen as a deliberate attempt to withhold information from readers. Secondly, there are no direct quotes or references to any sources that were consulted during the search for the missing Marines.
The condition of the helicopter was not immediately disclosed
There are no direct quotes or references to any sources that were consulted during the search for the missing Marines.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter can carry up to 16 tons of cargo without providing any evidence or citation for this claim. Additionally, the article uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that winds were gusting up to 20 mph and heavy precipitation was reported in the area, which could be seen as sensationalizing the situation. The author also quotes a spokesperson from Cal Fire San Diego without providing any context or information about their expertise on helicopter crashes.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter can carry up to 16 tons of cargo
Winds were gusting up to 20 mph and heavy precipitation was reported in the area
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article discusses the US Marines and their helicopter squadron in relation to a missing helicopter incident that occurred at Pine Valley, San Diego base. As such, it is likely that there are financial ties between these entities and the military as a whole.
The article mentions Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 which has been involved in previous incidents involving CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.
The helicopter was reported missing Wednesday morning in San Diego, California.
Rescuers were battling heavy snow to reach a Marine Corps helicopter carrying five troops that went down in the mountains outside San Diego.
Additional resources were brought in because of the heavy snowfall Wednesday in the sparsely populated mountains
The CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter that can move troops and equipment and carry as much as 16 tons of cargo
Accuracy
The Marines who were aboard the craft are assigned to Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive because it does not identify the author or the source of the information. It also uses emotional manipulation by describing the area as 'covered in snow', which implies that it is dangerous and difficult to search. The article also omits important details such as where Creech Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar are located, and what kind of mission the helicopter was on. These details could help readers understand why the helicopter went missing or who might be responsible for it.
The article is deceptive because it does not identify the author or the source of the information. It also uses emotional manipulation by describing the area as 'covered in snow', which implies that it is dangerous and difficult to search.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the helicopter is assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 without providing any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used throughout the article such as 'missing' and 'overdue', which could be seen as sensationalist language.
The helicopter is assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Bias
(75%)
The article reports on a missing military helicopter and the search efforts being made to find it. The author uses language that implies the helicopter was likely lost due to technical issues or human error rather than any intentional act by those involved in its operation.
> A call came in around 2:20 a.m. reporting that the aircraft, with five people onboard, had not shown up to its destination.<br>The last reported area of the helicopter was north of Interstate 8 and Kitchen Road<br>Sheriffs are sending their search and rescue team out to the area.
Cal Fire crews are also assisting with search efforts.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Amber Coakley has a conflict of interest on the topic of missing military helicopters as she is an employee of Marine Aircraft Group 16 and reports on their activities.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of missing military helicopters as they are reporting on Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.
The helicopter was designed to fly in harsh conditions and went missing as an historic storm dumped heavy snow and record rain over California.
Additional resources were brought in because of the heavy snowfall Wednesday in the sparsely populated mountains
`Winds were gusting up to 20 mph Tuesday evening near Pine Valley and likely stronger at higher elevations. Radar indicates a heavy band of precipitation swept through the area between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday, with rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations`
Accuracy
Rescuers were battling heavy snow to reach a Marine Corps helicopter carrying five troops that went down in the mountains outside San Diego.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the helicopter disappeared Tuesday night but does not mention what time exactly. This information was only discovered after a search began and could have been crucial to the rescue efforts if known earlier. Secondly, while it mentions that there were five people on board the aircraft, it does not provide any details about their identities or roles within the military unit they belonged to. Thirdly, despite stating that weather and rugged terrain made the task difficult for rescuers, no specifics are given regarding how these factors impacted the search efforts.
The article states that 'the last known contact with the helicopter was at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday', but it does not provide any information on what happened after this time or if there were any other attempts to communicate with the aircraft.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the military is working with federal, state and local agencies on the rescue effort without providing any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by suggesting that weather and rugged terrain make the task difficult when it could also be argued that these factors are necessary for effective search-and-rescue operations in mountainous regions. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as 'historic storm' and 'record rain', which may create a sense of urgency but can also contribute to fear and panic.
The military is working with federal, state and local agencies on the rescue effort.
