Search continues for 12 Marines after chopper crash in Hawaii

An Oregon Marine is among the 12 missing and presumed dead after a military helicopter crashed into another helicopter off the coast of Hawaii Thursday night.

“One of the United States Marines who was aboard one of the helicopters and is now missing is a member of that family”, said state police spokesman David Procopio. They are still unaccounted for.

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

A Honolulu Fire Department rescue boat also is searching.

Search crews that arrived on the scene shortly after midnight were able to spot a debris field.

The Coast Guard uses what’s called the Probability of Survival Decision Aid to gauge survival time he said, explaining that they factor in air temperature, water temperature, sea conditions and humidity, along with details about the victims. None has been found. The cause of the crash isn’t known.

“I pray to the man upstairs to help them”. The witness had noticed the aircraft flying and afterwards suddenly disappearing with a fireball.

He said the Corps has notified each of the families of their status, but he wouldn’t release the names of each of the Marines to the public until 72 hours after the families have been notified.

Family members of a Marine they believe was aboard one of two helicopters that collided off Hawaii are holding out hope that he survived. “With a little bit of luck and a little bit of prayer, we’ll be successful”.

The ABC affiliate in Portland, Ore., KATU, spoke with the family of another Marine, Ty Hart, who was on one of the helicopters.

Carr said fierce winds are complicating the search for possible survivors after CH-53E helicopters, belonging to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from the Marine Corps Air Station at Kaneohe Bay, were reported to have collided.

The transport helicopters, known as CH-53Es, crashed late on Thursday, officials said.

The Honolulu mayor’s office says Haleiwa Alii Beach Park is closed Friday and may remain closed for several days as the rescue effort continues.

Officials are asking the public to report if they see anything that might be debris from the choppers.

However, no more details are out yet.

“Everyone at the City and County has been deeply impacted by this incident and our hearts are breaking for the friends and ‘ohana of the Marines involved”.

Rescue workers are understood not to have located any personnel so far and are continuing to search the water.