A desperate search has been launched off the coast of Hawaii as the Coast Guard scrambles to find survivors of a mid-air collision of two Marine helicopters off the Hawaiian island of Oahu, officials reported Friday.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers said that the Marine Corps reported the crash just before midnight Thursday. Mooers says each aircraft had six people aboard.
A Coast Guard helicopter and C-130 airplane arrived on scene 2 1/2 miles offshore shortly after midnight and located a debris field.
Mooers said a Navy helicopter, a Honolulu Fire Department rescue boat have also responded and Coast Guard cutters are coming in.
Marine Capt. Timothy Irish confirmed that a search and rescue is underway for the two CH-53Es — transport helicopters. He said the aircraft were from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Mooers told Los Angeles radio station KNX-AM that search conditions were challenging because of darkness and high surf. She said a high surf advisory is in effect for waves 10 to 15 feet building throughout the morning.
There was no immediate word on what caused the collision or if any survivors have been found.
The collision comes less than a year after the Marine Corps’ new hybridized airplane-and-helicopter aircraft crashed during a training exercise, killing two Marines. The MV-22 Osprey went down last May with 21 Marines and a Navy corpsman on board.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
A very sad story. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen deserve tremendous respect. Especially in this age where so few of our 18-35 year olds serve.
AMEN!! Plus they have to put up with an Anti American, Anti Military Incompetent LIAR in chief!!
It deeply saddens me each time one (or more) of our service members die or get killed. They are so very important to the safety and security of our beloved country. Yes, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
I agree with Jim’s comment.
So do I.
I get so sick of reading these articles. We have had more of these since Neanderthal has been President than I can remember. My family love all service members no matter who they are. You service members hold a special place in my Heart always. And to think that maybe this happened because of a setup makes it even more hard to take in. They gave their life doing what they wanted to for the Greatness of our country. I cant put into words the Appreciation I have for each and every one of them. And the way this Neanderthal is that we have for a loser person, MAKES ME SICK!!!!! When people have become so vial, trashy, barbaric, greedy, dumb, stupid, and asinine, to use our servicemen to get what they want is DISGRACEFUL. I will no longer listen to it was a TRAGIC ACCIDENT, after the last deadly accidents (supposedly). I will no longer consider you a human being because of your filthy agenda since you don’t care about the lives you destroy, and you certainly without a doubt do not need to be in the White House. The people that are there now have turned it in to a circus and it MAKES ME SICK!!!!. You need to be removed from the White House because we all know that you wont leave willingly! Well I know things that are happening for a reason. In the end the evils are not gonna like the outcome. So Thanks to all you soldiers, ALL OF YOU ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE. I CAN SAY TO YOU, “AMERICA LOVES YOU”
Vote for Trump to turn our country around.
I agree with Jim, can’t wait for January 2017 to get rid of him!
Thank you, Main Street. I am the proud mom of a 22-year old Senior Airman stationed in Alaska. He is starting his 4th year of serving this wonderful country and he wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m so thankful to all our troops for everything they do to keep America the land of the free. God bless and keep them all!!
The reason we have too many dead soljers is because Obama won’t let them do their job. He by doing this killed many military people.
I Agree wholeheartedly. I don’t think there was ever a time in my life that I would have disagreed. We DON’T give our military and VETS ESPECIALLY what they have really been worth. I’ll admit that you might not have called me a “patriot” for much of my life (I’m 60) but that doesn’t mean I’m not one now – just took time and some good teachers. Robert Anson Heinlein chief among them. However, that doesn’t mean I was not in favor of the military (I never attended Woodstock or bought “Free Love” either), it just means that I didn’t know way back when. BTW – I never served in Vietnam, either or ever been in the military. Put your wig back on, I’m classified as 4-F. Freakin’ Army wouldn’t take me for a bet. But, I did what I could – I am a CHL in Ohio and pass that on when I get a chance.
I flew USMC SAR in that area for several years in the late 70s. I know what all concerned are going through and the total cooperation, concern and effort that is being expended in that search and recovery operation. So sad, God Bless and Semper Fi
I hope it’s not antiquated equipment that caused it as most of our air support systems need updating something this Administration hasn’t budgeted. Our service people deserve the best equipment for the dangerous work they’re involved even in training.
RIP to the Service people lost in this accident.
To the Families saying prayers for the strength to manage through this Ordeal and the absence of their loved ones.
SEMPER FI , Terrible loss, Sympathy and Prayers to the families.
This is down right disgusting , who were the pilots that were flying these Helicopters , if they were the Navy , it just goes to show too many problems are with the Military . Now the Secretary of the Navy wants both Woman & Men to be trained together at Parris Island , they also want man or men taken out of every classification of jobs in the Marne Corps , In stead of Rifleman they want the man classification removed , Artilleryman , infantryman , all reference to man removed. The Marine Corps has been training Marines at Parris Island for 100 years , they just celebrated that in 2015 , now we are going to have some civilian asshole appointed by Obama to change all that , what a disgrace. Did any of you that watched the STOU by Hussein Obama , in the audience representing the military , were the Marine Corps the Navy an one From the AIRFORCE , not one General from the Army , why do you think that occurred . The Army Generals have said if Trump gets nominated they are leaving the military , good in my opinion . after the Army’s two Top Generals , Patreous and General Dempsey lied to the Congress and lied to the American People about Benghazi . Patreous didn’t have an extra Marital Affair , no he was fired because the CIA annex was arming the Jihadist Libyans , also the Al Caida rebels in Syria to fight Assad . Patreous was fired for those actions , although Hussein Obama didn’t want that as part of his administration , so he lied and said Patreous had given his autobiographer Classified material , along with having an Affair. It was all bullshit so Hussein Obama could save Face . The same holds true for the Former Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey , who said there weren’t any military close by to help in preventing the Murders of the 4 Americans that died in Benghazi , Dempsey lied to Congress and the American People along with the Secretary of Defense Panetta . When Congress investigated further they found out there were military available , what military in the Area were ready to go . When they brought Dempsey back in front of them after Panetta Retired , they asked him again why he lied , plus told him what military were close enough to respond , didn’t want his answers anymore , because they had an email from the Pentagon 1 hour after the Attack , telling all involved his name along with Panetta, also Hillary’s Chief of Staff , telling them they were spinning up and ready to go to the aid of those in Benghazi . They then asked him why he lied , He Said Obama issued a Stand Down Order , which nullified any action in going to Benghazi . Now General Dempsey is no longer Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , because he lost all creditability with the Military and had to retire early , now we Have a USMC General Dunford who will not take any shit from Hussein Obama , when it comes to protecting American Lives Overseas . The Army in my opinion is the worst Military Branch in the United States . I know first hand , from my experience in Vietnam , we had taken this hill 363 with the expense of losing my fellow Marines , gave it over to the Army who lost it , then we had to go back in and take it again with the loss of more of my fellow Marines , however this time we didn’t give it to the Army , we kept it ourselves . While in Vietnam we read and heard many stories of the Army refusing to fight in that war , while in country , telling their officers they weren’t going to go and get killed , it was all over the place . Especially after the My Lai Massacre as they described it in the Press , woman and children were just killed along with the Viet Cong , after Captain Calley was told by his Army Superiors to kill anyone in their path and that’s what they did . That’s why myself would never allow the press to be embedded with my Men , I was ordered by my Captain to take them anyway , so I did but after we left the Campsite , I told the reporter and his camera man , that if we get ambushed you guys are on your own , well we did get ambushed and the cameraman was wounded along with some of the men , who took them back to our camp . The reporter still wanted to stay I said no , he was outraged, but I told him when you start questioning the Marines , on how do they know those people In front of you are the enemy, as they are all dressed the same they were told none of your business, I told him you don’t question a Combat Marine on Duty , trying also to seduce them saying you would contact their families when you returned to the States , that’s totally uncalled for. After getting back to base camp , I told my captain what happened regarding the press , they understood , I always refused the press after that , they never came with us Marines again. Another Example was in Haditha , when the Press told the world that marines were killing civilians in Iraq , those Marines who were hit and some were killed went from Door to door looking for the perpetrators that planted an IAD on the Road that killed the Marine, while they were driving a Humvee on the road . The Marines were taken back to the States put on Trial along with their Commander over the charges these reporters supposedly witnessed . A Democratic Congressman Frank Murtha, himself a Retired Marine Reserve Colonel . pushed for the trial by NCIS , calling those Marines Cold Blooded Killers, plus accused military brass of and “Covering Up the incident. Eight Marines were charged in December 2006 , after they were acquitted Congressmen Murtha pushed for an appeal , after that ran its course they were acquitted again , again Murtha didn’t want to lose face , so he pushed for another Appeal to the courts . At no time after these Marines had to go through two more Appeals and were finally Acquitted for good . Had Congressman Frank Murtha ever apologized for his outrageous behavior to the Marine Corps for which he was also a Marine Reservist . I pushed and Pushed for him being dishonorably Discharged from the Marine Corps , but as what happens in Washington , Congress is not responsible for the lies they tell the laws they pass , which exempts them from being part of it is a total disgrace . That’s why we have to make sure that the Unpatriotic Hillary Clinton, never gets into the White House , if she does than a Second American Revolution is eminent. Just like what is happening in Oregon right now, as the Militia made up of Military Veterans , are pushing back the BLM( Bureau of Land management ) from burning Ranchers out Like The Hammond Ranch , where large deposits of Uranium are on their property , that’s part of the Uranium that Hillary sold to the Russians , who want access to these properties. However Hillary has never told, where the money that Russia paid has been deposited . That’s why Bill was paid over $500,000 to make a speech in Moscow , why a company Called Uranium One , was bought out by Russia who had the mineral Rights to the land in Oregon and also the Bundy Ranch in Nevada . There are actual Videos showing the BLM burning the land around the Ranch in Oregon , that these ranchers took showing the BLM burning the property on Camera . These last seven years these criminals in the Corrupt Obama Administration , have done nothing but steal and spend taxpayers money to benefit themselves while destroying the Constitution which is in its path.
Thank you so much, for your service…..
It is a disgrace what has happened to our military under this administration. The corruption is so deep. I wonder if these helicopters really collided? They could of been shot down, and we would have no way of knowing.
How terrible what our government has become….Who can we trust today, when both parties are corrupt?
Like in Oregon, the goal of the government, the BLM, and the UN is to control all land, and take it out of the hands of
the people……Also a one world government, currency and religion…… Agenda 21…Tavistock Institute, The best kept secret in America….
@Mike Clark, and @Nancy Thomas: Mike: THANK YOU for your years of selfless, sacrificial service. . .and to ALL other service men and women, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
And Nancy, I agree with you 100% of what you expressed!! I wondered the same thing as you, in regards to the TRUTH surrounding the ‘collision’ of the helicopters??? The way things are going these days; I can’t help but wonder IF one or both pilots were responsible for such a killing??? (For ‘they’ are in our military, government, Universities, banks, businesses, education, EVERYWHERE; and willing to die in order to kill our people/any people! That’s what sickens me the MOST. . .
Well said ! Our only hope is to put Trump in the WH.
After serving in the US Navy Active and Reservist for 31 years, I am so disillusioned with the America of today. I totally agree with Mr. Clark and concur that the cover up by our congress and white house is so bad I am afraid it can not be repaired without wholesale change in congress and supreme court. Term Limits for all offices must be enacted to ferret out the disease in Washington. The forefathers writing the constitution made a mistake by not putting term limits on all offices, but no one will do that simply because they are the ones that would have to enact such a law. Like putting a fox in the henhouse to guard the chickens.
Charles, I agree with you, and I like you served 32 yrs, as both Active and Reserve, and we at this time are at the lowest in our history. Sorry, so sorry!