Spectacular rescue between helicopters: a King Stallion lifted an MH-60S Seahawk

Seeing one helicopter lifting another is always an eye-catching maneuver, especially when it takes place in a high-mountain area.

United States Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters operating in southern Spain
The air power of the United States Marine Corps on its 250th anniversary

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) reported yesterday on a helicopter-to-helicopter recovery operation carried out in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, following a forced landing by a U.S. Navy aircraft. An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31), the "Dust Devils," made a hard landing at an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). Fortunately, the helicopter sustained no damage; however, it was unable to take off again due to the slope of the terrain. "The remote location and high altitude made it difficult to transport personnel and equipment, which in turn created significant challenges for draining the helicopter's fuel to reduce its weight," the USMC noted.

The Marines deployed a CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, belonging to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1, based at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. This unit has been operating the CH-53K—a model currently replacing the aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet within the Marine Corps—since June 2024. The external cargo slings typically used by the USMC on their helicopters were unsuitable for this mission, given the nature of the terrain, which was both sloped and heavily wooded. Consequently, the CH-53K had to utilize a 21-meter-long civilian-grade sling, which was purchased specifically for this rescue; VMX-1 took the opportunity to certify its use with this particular helicopter model.

To carry out the recovery, preliminary tests using a crane had to be conducted at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. Due to these tests, two weeks elapsed between the initial notification received by VMX-1 regarding the recovery and the granting of the flight authorization required to execute it. The USMC has acknowledged that the CH-53K was operating at the very limit of its capabilities, given the significant weight of the MH-60S (which has an empty weight of 6,540 kg), as well as the altitude, the distance to be covered, and the prevailing weather conditions. Only the main and tail rotor blades of the MH-60S were removed, in order to prevent them from sustaining damage during the transport operation.

To preserve the structural integrity of the MH-60S, VMX-1 utilized the airframe’s designated attachment points rather than lifting it by the main rotor; this required the preparation of a specialized rigging structure for the lift. Ultimately, the Navy helicopter was recovered without incident or damage and will be able to return to flight status without the need for extensive maintenance. It serves as an example of effective planning and teamwork between personnel from two different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

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Photos: U.S. Marine Corps / John Rojas.