Marines identified in CH-53E helicopter incident over Hawaii

“We are grateful for the strong response of our military in their efforts to bring Corporal Orlando home safely”, Healey said in an e-mail to the Globe.

The U.S. Marines Corps released the identities of 12 Marines missing at sea after two helicopters collided near the island of Oahu in Hawaii on Thursday night. Known as Super Stallions, they are the United States military’s largest helicopter, capable of carrying a light armoured vehicle, 16 tons of cargo or a team of combat-equipped Marines, according to a Marine Corps website.

A search vessel cruises the waters off the beach at Haleiwa, Hawaii, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Rescuers battled winds of up to 23 miles per hour and waves up to 30 feet as they searched for 12 Marines who are missing after two helicopters they were in crashed off the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The search yesterday – which included Coast Guard, Army and Navy personnel and the Honolulu police and fire departments – expanded to include Oahu’s western coast, and was complicated by high surf that was spreading debris, officials said.

There was no immediate word on Friday on the fate of those aboard or what caused the accident. The wreckage was strewn over a three kilometre area, Marine Captain Timothy Irish said.

The Marine Corps has named the 12 missing men.

“If anyone can handle that type of situation, it would be him, because he’s very comfortable in the water”, Fenton said.

She expressed concern for the crew as she watched the pounding surf from Haleiwa.

Both families are thankful for the prayers and support they’ve already received and ask people to keep giving it. “God bless them”, McGrew said.

The Coast Guard initially reported the choppers had collided.

A civilian on the beach first told authorities of seeing a fireball, followed by a second person reporting a flare.

The Marines were alerted when the helicopters failed to return to their base at Kaneohe Bay as scheduled, Irish said. “Debris should be treated as hazardous material”, said Lt. Scott Carr, Coast Guard 14th District public affairs officer.

The Marines said each CH-53E helicopter had a crew of six on board and were on a training mission at the time of the collision.