US Military Helicopters Crash, Coast Guard Searches for Survivors

The US Coast Guard is responding to a report of downed military aircraft off Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu, Friday, 15th of January.

Responders are searching for survivors in a debris field located about two and half miles north of Haleiwa.

At 11:38 p.m. Thursday, watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu received notification of two possible downed military helicopters each reportedly with six personnel aboard.

The US Marines have also confirmed the accident on their official twitter account:

The Marine Corps can confirm there is an active search and rescue for 2 CH-53’s of the coast of Oahu. pic.twitter.com/3eIHloJYOx

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) January 15, 2016

Watchstanders at the Sector transferred the case to the Coast Guard District 14 Command Center, also in Honolulu.

Watchstanders at the District directed the launch of Coast Guard aircrews from Air Station Barbers Point and requested assistance from other local agencies.

Just after midnight the Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter arrived on scene and located a debris field.

The Coast Guard has also directed the Coast Guard Cutters Ahi and Kiska to get underway to the scene. Ahi is an 87-foot patrol boat currently in Maui. Kiska is a 110-foot patrol boat in Hilo.

Conditions are reportedly mostly cloudy skies with light southeast wind and scattered showers. A high surf advisory is in effect for the north facing shore of Oahu with 10 to 15 foot waves building to 25 to 30 waves later in the day.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Marine Corps.