Rescue crews are searching the area of the Pacific near San Diego for nine people after the collision of a Coast Guard transport plane and a Marine Corps helicopter off San Clemente Island last night.  Read more on this tragic story below.

The crash of the coast guard plane happened about 15 miles east of San Clemente Island.  The collision involved a C-130 transport plane of the Coast Guard’s and an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Federal Aviation Administration officials said the crash was reported around 7:10 p.m. Thursday evening. CNN reported that a pilot flying near the area saw a fireball in the area on Thursday.

Coast Guard and Navy officials began searching for any survivors late last night. There were seven people aboard the C-130 and two in the AH-1.

Cpl Michael Stevens, spokesman for Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, said the AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter was on a training mission when the collision occurred. The Cobra and its crew are part of Marine Aircraft Group 39, based at Camp Pendleton.

The seven people missing on the Coast Guard plane and its crew are from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta Disco.  The crew of the Sacramento Coast Guard station fly search-and-rescue, law enforcement and logistics missions, Disco said.

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