3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashes near Glamis off Highway 78

According to Naval Air Facility El Centro’s Facebook page: “We can confirm that an aircraft belonging to 3d Marine Aircraft Wing crashed near Glamis, CA. Military and civilian first responders are on site.

Contrary to initial reports, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft. More information will be made available as we receive it.

The initial story was this:

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. – A military aircraft reportedly carrying nuclear material (this has been debunked and reported not carrying nuclear material) crashed near Glamis, California Wednesday afternoon.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene near State Route 78.

Reports suggest at least four people are dead and one person is unaccounted for. The cause of the crash is unknown.

Scanner traffic indicated the aircraft was a V-22 Osprey possibly carrying radioactive and nuclear material. The plane belongs to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, officials said.

Naval Air Facility El Centro wrote on its Facebook page: “NAFEC has just received reports of a downed aircraft in the vicinity of Coachella Canal Road and Highway 78.

Installation, federal fire and Imperial County Fire Department are responding. “I do not have any additional details at this time as facts become verified and available information will be released on the base’s Facebook page. Please be patient as the installation team works through this emergency,” a spokesman stated.