Two CH-53E collide; 12 Marines missing
Fox News reports that the Coast Guard is searching for the crews and passengers of two CH-53E “Super Stallion” helicopters that collided and went down two-and-a-half miles off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
The aircraft were taking part in a nighttime training mission, according to NBC News. It’s unclear what caused the crash.
A Navy helicopter crew and local firefighters were assisting in the search, ABC News reports.
12 Marines are missing. The Coast Guard has found an occupied life raft in the debris. A reminder that training for war is sometimes as deadly as the war itself.
Category: Coast Guard, Marine Corps
prayers for all involved. 🙁
Dammit….reminds of this.
http://www.forcerecon.com/HM1-Jay-J-Asis.htm
I hope they find some survivors.
That was a bad day followed by worse nights.
FW&FS Brothers.
Davey Galloway was a good friend.
And never forget the Crew Chief on the helo, who could have easily escaped but stayed and kept trying to drag/push guys out of the helo. He truly gave his life to save those of his Brothers.
Prayers for these marines’ safe return.
There are sharks in the water in that area. There may not be a lot to recover, unfortunately.
I want to know more about what happened that caused this collision.
Those are Marines….better pray for the sharks.
Some of the most dangerous flying I’ve ever done is the “routine training mission” especially at night.
Which is what this was.
Thoughts and prayers to my fellow fliers.
I controlled many helos doing aided ops at night in those waters. The worst was between Molokai and Lanai. For some reason the fishing boats and tugs like to spot light the helos when they hear them. Needless to say a goggled pilot’s vision goes to shit when that happens.
Indeed, prayers to the rotorheads and jarheads on those birds.
Prayers up.
Damn. The profession of arms is indeed a risky “business”.
May God grant that all those involved be recovered quickly and in good health.
A sad and terrible event.
Thoughts and Prayers go out to those currently unaccounted for.
Hope all are returned safe and well.
Another reminder that just preparing to do your job in the military can kill you as dead as actually facing an enemy….or injure to the point where you can no longer serve.
That appears to be something that tends to get lost when the media discusses the business of soldiering.
Hopefully a quick rescue for survivors and condolences to the families of the lost.
“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect.”
Thinking of those Marines and their families.
Prayers to the crew, passengers and their families. I remember a CH53 dumping in the Med off the USS Guadalcanal back in the 1977\78 timeframe. I believe all personnel survived that incident.
I rarely hitched rides in Helicopters in my time. There were two times when there were mechanical failures, both in CH53Es.
I didnt even know it happened until days later during de-briefings.
Going to be hell for the families the next few weeks.
A family member of mine flies CH-53s for the Marines in Hawaii. I called home as soon as I heard about this and verified that he is okay, but this incident involved his unit, and the pilots were friends of his.
Jesus.
Nightmare.
Thoughts are with all involved & all US service pers affected by this tragedy.
Sydney
Australia