Alabama natives among missing after Marine Corps helicopters crash, AL.com reports

A Marine sergeant originally from Delano, Minnesota, is among those missing after two US helicopters collided on a training mission over Hawaii, family members say.

“We are now back in the water, and we are searching”, Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman Shayne Enright said.

Family friend Christina Brown described Hart as upbeat and energetic and said he enjoys nature, boating and wakeboarding.

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.

The Coast Guard said each of the aircraft had six people aboard, and they were from the Kaneohe Bay U.S. Marine Corps Air Station nearby.

The helicopters crashed into the ocean on Friday, January 15, more precisely late on Thursday just before midnight, about two miles away from the shore. The search and rescue operations were underway in areas with a high surf advisory, including likely 10-foot waves, Honolulu’s KHON-TV reported.

The Coast Guard was actually notified by a civilian on the beach about the crash.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Marine Corps.

A park on Oahu’s North Shore will remain closed while a search is being conducted for 12 crew members who were aboard two Marine helicopters that collided.

Saturday’s search included “multiple assets” and spanned eight miles out to sea, but the Coast Guard reported “no significant developments”. The wreckage was strewn over a 2-mile area, Marine Captain Timothy Irish said.

Authorities searching for 12 Marines missing after two helicopters crashed off Hawaii have found some life rafts that were carried aboard the aircraft.

“It really impacted me to hear the strength in his voice and anything that I can do to help make him a little bit stronger or to alleviate any burden that was an honor for me to do”, Magerer said.

USCG Lt. Cooper said any reports of debris will be incorporated into their search efforts.

The family of Capt. Kevin Roche believes he was one of the Marines aboard the helicopters.

Marine officials contacted the Coast Guard about the missing aircraft, and it deployed a helicopter.

“Weather still a challenge”, the Coast Guard added.