Third day of searching for survivors of Coast Guard-Marine crash

UPDATE
Search ends for missing after midair collision
November 1, 2009 1:02 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesman: Search halted because "hope is no longer viable"
Coast Guard plane and Marine Corps helicopter collided Thursday
Coast Guard craft had been on search for missing boater

(CNN) -- Authorities have decided to call off a search-and-rescue mission for nine people who may have plunged into the Pacific Ocean off southern California after a Coast Guard C-130 plane and a Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter collided Thursday night.

"I've reached the conclusion that hope is no longer viable," Coast Guard Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo told reporters Sunday. "We no longer believe there is any chance somebody could still be alive."
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/01/california.midair.searchends/index.html

Post-crash search extends into 3rd day

By Gillian Flaccus - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 1, 2009 9:00:44 EST

SAN DIEGO — Hope was fading but a search for survivors was set to continue into a third day Sunday for nine people who went missing when a U.S. Coast Guard plane collided with a Marine Corps helicopter over the Pacific Ocean.

Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo said at a news conference Saturday night that there was still a chance of finding survivors among the seven military personnel aboard the Coast Guard C-130 and the two in the Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter because all had access to heat-retaining drysuits and were in excellent physical shape.

A Pentagon official said Friday that the crash likely killed all aboard. But Castillo said Saturday the search was ongoing, and Coast Guard officials were still classifying it as a rescue mission.

The aircraft commander, Lt. Cmdr. Che Barnes, 35, is from Capay, Calif. His co-pilot, Lt. Adam Bryant, 28, is from Crewe, Va.

Also aboard the C-130 were Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, 35, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio; Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, 29, of Decaturville, Tenn.; Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, 26, of Norristown, Pa.; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, 22, of Elm Mott, Texas.

The missing crew members from the Marine helicopter are Maj. Samuel Leigh, 35, of Belgrade, Maine, and 1st Lt. Thomas Claiborne, 26, of Parker, Colo.

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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_marine_coast_guard_crash_110109/