The U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday said it would suspend its search for 12 Marines who went missing after two helicopters crashed off the coast of a Hawaiian island on Friday.
Rescuers searched for five days for the Marines who were taking part in a night training mission when witnesses saw the two C-53E “Sea Stallion” helicopters burst into flames off the north shore of Oahu.
“I know I speak for the entire Coast Guard when I say our thoughts and prayers are with Marine Corps helicopter squadron and particularly with families and loved ones of those missing,” Capt. Jim Jenkins, U.S. Coast Guard 14 chief of staff told ABC News.
The search also involved the Navy and Honolulu ships and aircraft.
Rescuers found a debris field over two miles off the coast, and all four life rafts aboard the helicopters.
“There is no indication from the sightings that any survivors have been aboard any of the life rafts,” Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Scott Carr told USA Today.
The Coast Guard initially reported that the choppers had collided, but the Marines said later it wasn’t yet known if there was a collision. The cause remains under investigation.
The Coast Guard takes into consideration the amount of time someone can survive with the right equipment and in the right conditions.
“We err on the side of caution because the last thing that anybody wants is to suspend the search when there’s still a possibility of finding somebody,” Petty Officer Sara Mooers told CBS.
Aircrews wear personal flotation devices with their flight suits and get additional training on top of survival swimming training, the Marines said.
The transport helicopters were part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The Super Stallions can carry a 26,000-pound Light Armored Vehicle and 16 tons of cargo on a 100-mile roundtrip — enough combat-loaded Marines to lead an assault or humanitarian operation, the Marines website says.
The missing Marines are:
• Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas.
• Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia.
• Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis.
• Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama.
• Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24, Chaska, Minnesota.
• Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania.
• Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina.
• Sgt. William J. Turner, 25, Florala, Alabama.
• Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Spring, Texas.
• Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida.
• Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts.
• Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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