Two Marine Helicopters Involved in Collision in Hawaii, 12 People Missing

Responders are searching for survivors.

ByABC News
January 15, 2016, 10:56 AM

— -- The U.S. Coast Guard says it has responded to a report of a military aircraft collision involving two Marine helicopters off the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Chief Petty Officer Fara Mooers told ABC News.

Responders are searching for 12 people in a debris field 2 miles off the coast of Haleiwa. Each helicopter was carrying six people.

The Marine Corps said in a news release that the aircraft were from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The Coast Guard received a call from the Marine Core Air Station, Kane’ohe Bay, at 11:38 p.m. local time Thursday requesting assistance.

PHOTO: Two CH-53 Sea Stallions assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 idle on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard after fly-on exercises during Rim of the Pacific in 2008.
Two CH-53 Sea Stallions assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 idle on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard after fly-on exercises during Rim of the Pacific in 2008.

Officials launched Coast Guard aircraft -- a MH65 helicopter and an HC130 Coast Guard airplane -- from Oahu.

The Coast Guard is searching the debris with assistance from a Navy helicopter crew and the Honolulu Fire Department with a helicopter and rescue boat on scene.

They have not located any personnel at this time and are continuing to search.

This latest incident follows a string of deadly training exercises for the military.

Just last month, two Army pilots from Fort Campbell were killed when their AH-64D Apache helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise. That helicopter was found in a rural community.

In March of 2015, a military training accident caused the death of 11 veteran Marines and soldiers. They were conducting a training mission off the Florida coast when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed, killing all on board during a nighttime operation in foggy conditions.