SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A Marine Corps aircraft suddenly lost pressure at 21,000 feet after departing from MCAS Miramar this week.
MCAS Miramar said the incident occurred just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, after a C-130J from the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron departed from Miramar carrying 46 passengers for a scheduled training mission.
The aircraft suffered a loss of pressure 21,000 feet in the sky, the air station said in a release. Crew members were able to execute the proper procedures and safely land at MCAS Miramar.
RELATED: US Marine Corps order 24-hour 'reset' of aircraft
Four U.S. Marines and one sailor from the 3rd Low Altitude Defense Battalion based at Camp Pendleton were treated for symptoms of decompression sickness Wednesday, according to MCAS Miramar.
They were treated at Naval Medical Center San Diego and released without hospitalization, officials said.
The loss of pressurization is currently under investigation.
The incident comes nearly a week after USMC headquarters issued a 24-hour reset for all aircraft within two weeks - including all rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and tiltrotor aircraft. USMC commanders have the flexibility to decide when they would hold their reset depending on their unit's commitments and operations.
RELATED: 3 US Marines missing after aircraft crashes off Australia
USMC's request came following two military aircraft crashes since July. The most recent occurring off the coast of Australia, in which three US Marines died.
In July, 16 service members were killed near Jackson, Miss., when their aircraft crashed.
