Coast Guard looks for Marine helicopters after reported crash near Hawaii

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard is leading a search for two Marine helicopters carrying a total of 12 people following reports they collided near the island of Oahu in Hawaii, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard said on Friday.

The CH-53E helicopters, belonging to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from the Marine Corps Air Station at Kaneohe Bay, were reported to have collided just before midnight local time (1000 GMT), spokeswoman Sara Mooers said.

Coast Guard crews found debris in the waters off the town of Haleiwa on the north shore of Oahu, but did not find any of the passengers.

'They are currently searching for any possible personnel,” Mooers said.

The U.S. Navy and a local fire department are assisting the search, which has been hampered by dark, cloudy conditions and waves of up to 15 feet, she said.

The Marine Corps confirmed the search, but provided few additional details.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey, David Alexander and Laila Kearney in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum)