Still no luck in hunt for 12 Marines after Hawaii crashes

RETRANSMIT FOR IMPROVED TONING - A search vessel cruises the waters off the beach at Haleiwa, Hawaii, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Two Marine helicopters carrying 12 crew members collided off the island of Oahu during a nighttime training mission, and rescuers are searching a debris field in choppy waters, military officials said. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy) RETRANSMIT FOR IMPROVED TONING - A search vessel cruises the waters off the beach at Haleiwa, Hawaii, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Two Marine helicopters carrying 12 crew members collided off the island of Oahu during a nighttime training mission, and rescuers are searching a debris field in choppy waters, military officials said. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

By Associated Press January 19, 2016 3 min read

HONOLULU (AP) – Teams searching the waters off Hawaii where two Marine helicopters crashed have had no luck so far in their hunt for 12 missing crew members.

Three of the four life rafts aboard the helicopters have been recovered and efforts were being made to retrieve the fourth. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers said Monday that some of the rafts were inflated, but it was unclear how they got that way.

There is no indication that anyone was aboard the rafts, based on their condition and the lack of any personal effects, she said.

Monday was the fourth day of searching. Conditions have improved since the start of the search, with much smaller waves.

Various agencies have been searching above water, below water and along the shoreline since the Coast Guard was notified late Thursday by a civilian who saw the aircraft flying and then saw a fireball.