Rescuers expand search for Army helicopter crew in Hawaii
Posted August 20, 2017 7:00 am
HONOLULU (AP) - The Coast Guard has expanded its search for five crew members of a downed Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii more than four days ago.
Officials said in a statement Sunday that their search area has covered about 68,000 square nautical miles. There have been no signs of life or of the missing crew, they said, but significant debris from the helicopter has been recovered.
The search began about two miles west of Oahu on Tuesday night and expanded to over 160 miles off shore by Sunday. Strong currents have spread debris throughout the remote and deep area of ocean.
The leading edge of the search radius is now south of Niihau, the westernmost inhabited island in the main Hawaiian chain.
In this Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, an air crewman aboard a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point scans the waters off Oahu, Hawaii, for any sign of five missing aviators from an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The Coast Guard has expanded its search for five crew members of a downed Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii more than four days ago. Officials said in a statement Sunday, Aug. 20, that their search area has covered about 68,000 square nautical miles. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Walnut (WLB 205) scan the waters off Oahu, Hawaii. A joint response has been mounted to search for five missing Army aviators from a downed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter off Oahu. The Coast Guard has expanded its search for five crew members of a downed Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii more than four days ago. Officials said in a statement Sunday, Aug. 20, that their search area has covered about 68,000 square nautical miles. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
The Associated Press
Water safety officials hand over possible debris from an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash to military personnel stationed at a command center in a harbor, Wednesday, August 16, 2017 in Haleiwa, HI. An Army helicopter with five on board crashed several miles off Oahu's North Shore late Tuesday. Rescue crews are searching the waters early Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Associated Press
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