According to the US military officials, on 15 January 2016, two CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing with 12 marines collided in the mid-air off the coast of Haleiwa, North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
The US military officials said that those Marine helicopters were conducting a nighttime training mission at the time of the accident.
The officials have not found sign of any survivors but rescue efforts are undergoing with natural obstacles as darkness and high waves. Rescuers spotted a burning debris field on the sea and one empty life raft.
Though the US military officials have not determined the cause of the collision but weather channel suggested that the wind and overall weather were not normal at the time of the collision.
Five aircraft accident have left at least 18 Marines dead in 2015. The last spike in aviation-related deaths occurred in 2012, when 15 Marines were killed in aircraft accident. But the most military experts argue that Aging aircraft and shrinking budgets are the main cause for such a hike in aircraft accidents and death. And the interesting fact that, the majority of aviation accidents involving Marines over the past few years have been tied to training exercises.
