DNA from helicopter crash found

HONOLULU — Trace elements of DNA have been found from Marines killed in a helicopter crash off Hawaii last month, the Marine Corps said Tuesday.

DNA traces were found during search-and-rescue operations that ended on Jan. 19, Capt. Cassandra Gesecki, a spokeswoman for the III Marine Expeditionary Force, said.

The families of the identified Marines were notified. The Marine Corps wouldn’t provide further information at this time about what was found.

Twelve Hawaii-based Marines were killed when two helicopters crashed during nighttime training on Jan. 14. Both aircraft were CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters that were part of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463.

The Coast Guard initially reported that the choppers had collided, but the Marines said later it wasn’t yet known if there was a collision.

A Navy diving unit will use underwater robots to survey the area of the crash and map the debris field, as ocean conditions permit.

Recovery and salvage operations may take several months to complete, but they may be extended depending on the size of the debris field and other factors, Gesecki said.