The Coast Guard is suspending its search for Sergeant Dillon Semolina of Delano and the other marines missing since two helicopters collided off the coast of Oahu in Hawaii on Friday. Two Marine helicopters carrying 12 crew members collided off the island of Oahu during a nighttime training mission, and rescuers are searching a debris field in choppy waters, military officials said.
Advertisement
HONOLULU (AP) – The Coast Guard has found the fourth life raft from two Marine helicopters that crashed off Hawaii, but no sign has emerged of any of the 12 missing crew members.
“Today, as we also continued our search for the missing Marines, we’ve also conducted an extensive review of the case”, Capt. James D. Jenkins, commander of 14th Coast Guard District in Hawaii, told a news conference at the Marine base. Marine Capt. Timothy Irish says the four life rafts have been recovered and all had been empty. Since then, the search has expanded from the west coast to its northeast corner, home of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
“There are thousands praying for a positive outcome for these Marines, and the search and rescue efforts”.
Aircrews wear personal flotation devices with their flight suits and get additional training on top of survival swimming training, the Marines said.
“As part of the squadrons’ role to operate day or night in a variety of weather conditions, they will train in low-light conditions and darkness, using the aid of night vision goggles”, he said. No mayday call was received, just word that something had gone wrong, the Coast Guard said.
“Our focus is to locate these Marines and know with absolute certainty we’ve thoroughly canvassed every location we might find them”, Carr said.
The U.S. Marines Corps released the names of the 12 missing crew members late Saturday. The cause remained under investigation.
Survival would entail many factors, including surviving the crash, being conscious for impact, being overwhelmed by water, and then facing dehydration, exposure and fatigue, said Mario Vittone, a retired Coast Guardsman who is an expert on sea survival. Shawn Campbell of College Station, Texas, said in a statement.
– Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis.
Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama.
Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina.
Cpl. Matthew Drown, of Spring, enlisted in the Marines shortly after getting out of high school in 2011.
Advertisement
Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon.
