Search Begins after Marine Helicopters Collide in Hawaii

The search has begun for the 12 missing people who were on board the two marine helicopters that apparently crashed in Hawaii, Marine Maj. Christian Devine said Friday.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 helicopters, with six members aboard each one, went missing off of the coast of Oahu after an apparent collision, which officials stated occurred late Thursday. The aircraft are believed to have landed in the water.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers said reported by CNN affiliate, Hawaii News Now that marine officials from the Marine Corps Airs Station in Kaneohe had requested for help at around 11:38 p.m. local time (4:38 a.m. Friday ET). The initial investigation found a debris field that was more than two miles off of the coast of Haleiwa, a north shore community located on the island of Oahu.

"Crews discovered a life raft with no one on board and visible flames on the water," Mooers said.

She added that one resident of Waialua claimed to have heard a loud boom followed by a flash of light that looked like a fireball in the sky.

The Guard has sent a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and an HC-130 search plane to look for the missing people. Two Coast Guard cutters were also requested to help with the search. The Honolulu Fire Department and the U.S. Navy are assisting with the effort.

The early morning rough waters, with waves building up to 30 to 40 feet, have made the search for survivors more difficult, Coast Guard Lt. Scott Carr noted.

Carr said in a phone interview to Hawaii News Now Sunrise, "That will certainly make our search efforts a little more daunting at this time."

The Marine Corps tweeted on Friday that the two helicopters are assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, which is a part of the 1st Marine Air Wing.

It is unclear what the two helicopters were doing in this area prior to the crash.