WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard is searching for survivors after two Marine Corps helicopters collided off the shore of an island in Hawaii late Thursday, CBS reports.
The Pentagon says six Marines were aboard each of the CH-53E helicopters, known as Sea Stallions, CBS reports.
The incident happened at around 11:30 p.m., local time, on Haleiwa, which is on the north shore island of Oahu. KHON TV in Honolulu reports witnesses in the area heard a loud boom over the water and saw a big flare in the sky.
A debris field — which included an empty life raft — was located just after midnight about 2.5 miles north of Haleiwa.
According to CBS, the aircraft came from the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. The Marines tweeted that the helicopters were from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing,
The aircraft are from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st MAW in Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/Gn4VmXOIgM
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) January 15, 2016
It’s unclear what the helicopters were doing there, though nighttime training exercises are not considered unusual.
Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers tells CBS that there was a high surf advisory in effect. The Navy, the Marines and the local fire department are aiding in the search effort.
