Coast Guard: 2 Marine helicopters collide off Hawaii’s Oahu

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2003 file photo, U.S. Marines and their Philippine counterparts jump from a US Marines CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter at Ternate in Cavite province south of Manila. The U.S. Coast Guard says two similar Marine helicopters have collided off the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2003 file photo, U.S. Marines and their Philippine counterparts jump from a US Marines CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter at Ternate in Cavite province south of Manila. The U.S. Coast Guard says two similar Marine helicopters have collided off the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

By Associated Press January 15, 2016 1 min read

HONOLULU (AP) – Two Marine helicopters collided off the Hawaiian island of Oahu with a total of 12 people on board and a search was underway Friday, military officials said.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers said that the Marine Corps reported the crash just before midnight Thursday. Mooers says each aircraft had six people aboard.

A Coast Guard helicopter and C-130 airplane arrived on scene 2 1/2 miles offshore shortly after midnight and located a debris field.

Mooers said a Navy helicopter, a Honolulu Fire Department rescue boat have also responded and Coast Guard cutters are coming in.

Marine Capt. Timothy Irish confirmed that an active search and rescue is underway for the two CH-53Es – transport helicopters. He said the aircraft were from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from Marine Corps Base Hawaii.