Nine US military and Coast Guard personnel were missing Friday after a mid-air collision between a transport plane and helicopter over the Pacific Ocean, authorities said. As dawn broke early Friday, an extensive search was under way for survivors of the crash near debris spotted in waters off the southern California city of San Diego, authorities said.
It followed the collision late Thursday between a Coast Guard transport plane and a United States Marine Corps light attack helicopter. "We are always hopeful ... the assumption is always that they are alive," said US Coast Guard Captain Thomas Farris, noting a person could survive in the water for 19-20 hours, possibly longer, depending on body type and clothing. Three Coast Guard cutters and a helicopter were scouring the area for survivors along with four US Navy vessels and several military helicopters. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.