Black Hawk helicopter, 5 U.S. military members crashes off Hawaii

HONOLULU – U.S. Coast Guard and military crews are searching the ocean off Hawaii for five crew members of an Army helicopter that reportedly went down during a training exercise, authorities said Wednesday.

Officials at Wheeler Army Airfield near Honolulu reported losing communications around 10 p.m. Tuesday with the crew of a UH-60 Black Hawk, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

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An Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying five crew members crashed in the ocean late Tuesday two miles off the coast of Hawaii, sparking a massive response from the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said it received a call around 10:08 p.m. from personnel at Wheeler Army Airfield saying the base lost communications with one of its UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews.

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Officials spotted a debris field around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday near Kaena Point off the island of Oahu.

Responders are searching for five missing crew members, using an HC-130 Hercules airplane, several Coast Guard boats and a shore patrol with the Honolulu Fire Department.
It's not clear what may have caused the crash, but the Coast Guard said the weather on scene currently has 11 mph winds and 2 foot seas.

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