Rescue operations are still on-going at the Pacific near San Diego for nine people after the collision of a Coast Guard transport plane and a Marine Corps helicopter off San Clemente Island last night. The AH-1 Cobra helicopter was based at the Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton, which is just outside of the crash site.
Officials were first alerted when a pilot reported seeing a ‘fireball’ in the area at approx 7.10pm, near or whereabouts the crash was supposed to have taken place. A search and rescue team from the Navy and Coast guard is now combing the area.
“We are throwing everything we can at this right now. We are looking for survivors, they have seen debris is in the water.” U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Josh Nelson said. Fortunately for the rescuers, the weather conditions are perfect for them to search the immediate area where the crash supposedly took place. “The seas are calm and we are using night-vision goggles” said the U.S. Coast Guard. The helicopter shown above is not the one involved in the crash.
