Twelve Marines are missing after two CH-53 helicopters collided off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu Thursday night during a training flight, U.S. officials confirmed Friday.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise over the water and seeing a flash in the sky around 11:40 p.m. Hawaii time, according to reports.
The Marine Corps is investigating the crash, while island emergency responders, Navy warships and the Coast Guard dispatched resources early Friday morning to search for the missing Marines.
Searchers found an empty life raft and debris field about two and a half miles north of Oahu.
Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller was hopeful that searchers would find the two groups of Marines.
Thoughts & prayers are with our Marines & their families in Hawaii as search efforts continue. We remain Semper Fidelis @usmc @USNavy @USCG
— Robert B. Neller (@GenRobertNeller) January 15, 2016
Increasingly poor weather conditions complicated the search midday Friday. The Coast Guard has asked the public to use extreme caution when traveling through local waters.
