2 US army choppers reported crashed off Hawaiian coast

Coast Guard, Navy and Honolulu fire dept. searching for helicopters, each carrying 6 crew, believed to have collided near Oahu

By Agencies 15 January 2016, 3:42 pm

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A US Navy helicopter approaching to land on the deck of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt as the USS Normady sails nearby during Exercise Malabar 2015 about 150 miles off Chennai, India, October 17, 2015. (AP/Arun Sankar K., File)

The US Coast Guard is searching for two military helicopters that reportedly crashed off the Hawaiian island of Oahu while carrying a total of 12 people, a spokeswoman said Friday.

The Coast Guard was alerted late Thursday to the reported collision between two Marine Corps choppers carrying six crew members each, said Coast Guard spokesman Sara Mooers from Honolulu.

Coast Guard search aircraft have spotted a debris field about 2.5 miles (four kilometers) off the north shore of Oahu but no people, she said.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules plane to take part in the search. Also searching are a Navy helicopter and one from the Honolulu fire department, as well as a rescue boat, Mooers said.

US Marine Capt. Timothy Irish confirmed to the AP that an active search and rescue is underway for two CH-53s — transport helicopters. He said the aircraft were from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from Marine Corps Base Hawaii.