Rescuers continued to search choppy waters where debris was sighted after two Marine Corps helicopters carrying six crew members each crashed off the Hawaiian island of Oahu during a nighttime training mission, military officials said.

There was no immediate word Friday on the fate of those aboard or what caused the accident. The transport helicopters known as CH-53Es crashed late Thursday, AP quoted officials as saying.

Hours later, a Coast Guard helicopter and C-130 airplane spotted debris 2 1/2 miles (four kilometers) offshore. The wreckage was strewn over a two-mile (3.2-kilometer) area, Marine Capt. Timothy Irish said.

Source: SPA