Debris Field Sited Near Kaena Point

Coast Guard and Army personnel are responding to a report of a downed Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with five crew aboard approximately two miles west of Kaena Point, Oahu, Wednesday.

Two Black Hawk aircrews were reportedly conducting training between Kaena Point and Dillingham Airfield at the time communications were lost. A debris field was spotted near Kaena Point by the Coast Guard Hercules and Army Black Hawk aircrews at 11:28 p.m. Tuesday. Responders are currently searching for the five missing aircrewmen.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Command Center in Honolulu received a call at 10:08 p.m. Tuesday from personnel at Wheeler Army Airfield stating they lost communications with one of their UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of response assets.

Responding are:

• HC-130 Hercules airplane aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
• MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
• Coast Guard Cutter Ahi (WPB 87364) and crew, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Honolulu
• 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu
• UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter aircrew from Wheeler Army Airfield
• Shore patrol and a boatcrew from Honolulu Fire Department

Weather on scene is currently 11 mph winds with 2 foot seas.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.uscg.mil