Military helicopters collide in Hawaii; search operation on

The US Coast Guard is searching for two military helicopters that reportedly crashed off the Hawaiian island of Oahu while carrying a total of 12 people, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

The Coast Guard was alerted late on Thursday to the reported collision between two Marine Corps choppers carrying six crew members each, said Coast Guard spokesman Sara Mooers from Honolulu.

Coast Guard search aircraft have spotted a debris field about four kilometres off the north shore of Oahu but no people, she said.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules plane to take part in the search. Also searching are a Navy helicopter and one from the Honolulu fire department, as well as a rescue boat, Mooers said.