Marine helicopters collide; 12 crew members missing

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

Hart graduated from Stayton High School in 2012 and played on the Stayton Eagles football team.

Six people were on board each of the two heavy-lift transport helicopters, according to Mooers.

Officials are asking people to immediately report any sightings of possible debris.

The Hawaii Coast Guard is carrying out a search and rescue operation.

Rescuers are having to deal with rough water conditions and poor visibility, which forecasters expect to last for the next several days. “We are definitely hoping to bring these guys back”, she said Saturday morning.

High waves have hampered the search for 12 US Marines missing at sea after two helicopters collided near the island of Oahu in Hawaii. There were 12 Marines aboard. Their names haven’t been released. Authorities were notified by a man standing on the beach who saw a fireball over the ocean after seeing the helicopters flying in that area, Carr said at a news conference.

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.

When the helicopters did not return to the base as scheduled the Marines were alerted.

She expressed concern for the crew as she watched the pounding surf from Haleiwa. The aircraft had been on a training mission. The helicopters usually carry four crew members, but this flight carried a couple of instructors as well.

Marines and sailors with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 challenged each other to a competition when they launched seven CH-53E Super Stallions, five AH1 Cobras and one UH1 Huey helicopter in March 2013.

Additional details are expected at a news conference later in the day at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Two military aircraft collided off the North Shore Oahu late Thursday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The debris covered an area of 2 miles, Marine Capt. Timothy Irish said.

Marine officials contacted the Coast Guard about the missing aircraft around 11 p.m. (4 a.m. Friday ET), Mooers said.