Aviation News – A U.S. Marine pilot was killed and another injured after a Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter crashed during a routine training flight near Imperial Gables, California, on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred near the California-Arizona border and involved a crew from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
The helicopter, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369, part of Marine Aircraft Group 39 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, went down around 7:05 p.m. during operations supporting the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course. Both pilots were airlifted to nearby hospitals; one was pronounced dead while the other remains in stable condition at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. The crash site was in an unpopulated area, and no civilians were harmed.
The AH-1Z Viper, a twin-engine attack helicopter developed by Bell, is a core element of the U.S. Marine Corps’ aviation fleet. Designed for precision close-air support and armed reconnaissance, the Viper’s advanced avionics, targeting systems, and weapons flexibility make it vital for both training and combat operations.
