Army, Coast Guard Search For Missing Black Hawk Crew

The U.S. Coast Guard and Army are searching for five missing service members off the coast of Hawaii after losing communication with a Black Hawk helicopter, the Coast Guard said Wednesday.

Personnel at Wheeler Army Airfield near Honolulu told the Coast Guard that it lost contact with the crew of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise Tuesday night, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The search began immediately after one aircrew lost visual and video contact with the other helicopter, Kellogg said.   

Responding teams reported spotting a debris field about 2 miles west of Kaena Point, Oahu, shortly before 11:30 p.m., the Coast Guard statement said.

An airplane, two helicopters -- which are elements of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade -- and several boats are being used in the search across an area with light winds and 2-foot seas.

Two Black Hawk crews were conducting training between Kaena Point and Oahu's Dillingham Airfield at the time communications were lost, officials said.

The UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine utility helicopter manufactured for the Army by Sikorsky Aircraft starting in the 1970s.   

Kaena Point is northwest of Honolulu.   

The Associated Press contributed to this report.